MANILA, Philippines - Pinky Amador is paying tribute anew to the French icon Edith Piaf in a pre-Valentines concert series at Resorts World Manila’s Bar 360 to be held tonight, Jan. 25 and on Feb. 1 and 8.
The singer-actress first took on the role as the music legend behind the enduring songs La Vie En Rose, Jezebel, Padam, Padam, etc., in last year’s critically-acclaimed stage production of Piaf.
So, what’s the first thing an artist is going to do when channeling such a celebrated character?
For her part, Pinky flew all the way to Paris with producer Bobby Garcia of Atlantis Productions to visit the grave of Piaf and “ask permission.†Whether that would be taken as superstitious or not, Pinky thinks the move has had served her well.
“It’s been great! Parang ang dami niyang (doing Piaf) swerte sa akin. Perhaps you just have to properly ask for permission. I don’t know if people believe that or not, but so far so good,†Pinky said in an interview, adding that the concert series is also a preparation “because we’re trying to do a repeat of Piaf the play. We’re trying to get interest because there’s still a lot of people who aren’t aware of who she is.â€
Interestingly, Pinky got to bring her Piaf repertoire to Resorts World’s Bar 360 through good friend Marissa Sanchez, who also asked her permission to dish out a few Piaf songs when she recently performed at Bar 360.
“Hindi naman ako si Piaf, why are you asking permission from me?†Pinky laughingly recalled as telling Marissa.
When she watched the show, she in turn was called on stage to do a Piaf song, and right there and then, the idea of the concert series titled as Paris Romance with Pinky Amador was born.
Pinky, who’s no longer a stranger at the “one-stop entertainment and tourism destination†that is Resorts World (she was part of their successful Sound of Music production in 2011 as the Baroness Elsa Schraeder), will render all of Piaf’s most famous songs as well as her fast ones; she will also do a duet, a unique solo featuring an accordionist, plus numbers with audience participation; and will sing them in three languages, French, English and Filipino. It’s a presentation designed to wow the casino crowd.
“You have to remember this is not a ‘pure’ concert because it’s Bar 360, ang kalaban mo ay slot machines. So, kailangan bumobongga ka rin. So, nothing more than two songs of the same flavor. If it were any other, I think, a more purist kind of artist, I would get, I don’t know, maybe insulted? For me, go, I can do it! Dapat ganun lang.â€
It’s been a busy start for Pinky this 2014. The department head of the Theater Arts at Meridian International School is set to do Do You Hear The People Sing?, a benefit concert mounted by Les Miserables creators Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schonberg on Jan. 29 and Jan. 30 for Yolanda victims, with Lea Salonga and international stage artists David Harris and Marie Zamora, also for Resorts World Manila. She returns to the stage in August for Repertory Philippines’ Osage County. The TV acting gigs continue as well via ABS-CBN’s Annaliza then GMA 7’s Inamorata.
Obviously, Pinky, who marked three decades in the industry last year, thrives in a full schedule. “It’s a great validation of your work like after 30 years, there are still people who get you, who know you, who trust you. Trust is the toughest to earn.â€
Pinky is also happy to see that more and more theater actors are venturing into TV and movies, and those in the mainstream are likewise exploring theater.
“Locally, I hope we get to a stage that we call an actor an actor regardless of where they come out. I really want to promote that people cross over to mainstream when they can, or from mainstream over to theater. Sino pa ba ang matutuwa di ba ang audience? It’s for the richness of the audience in terms of the performances.â€
Paris Romance with Pinky Amador has no cover charge. Shows start at 8 p.m. Bar 360 is located the ground Casino floor.
For more details, visit www.rwmanila.com or call the Tourist Hotline at (02) 908-8833.