Presented by Tone Poet Productions, the production will play the Montreal venue through Feb. 8.

Roger Peace's musical drama boasts 13 French songs originally performed by the late chanteuse. Naomi Emmerson stars in the title role with John Gilbert at the piano. Emmerson is also credited with set and costume design and stage direction. Adam Blanshay is the show's associate director.

"In Peace's intimate script," press notes state, "Piaf shares memories of destitution and joy; struggles and victories. From being discovered in the streets by club owner Louis Leplee to becoming the world's highest paid female singer known around the globe, then to fall into irreproachable despair from the death of 'the love of her life,' her ultimate 'raison d'être' was to find 'true love' at any cost and to sing or die." Among the songs heard in the production are "La Vie En Rose," "Milord" and "Non, Je ne Regrette Rien."

In addition to Piaf, Naomi Emmerson has also appeared onstage in Jeanne (Saidye Bronfman Centre), Georgia O'Keefe Nearby/Faraway (American Opera Projects), The Crimson Veil (Factory Theatre), Cheatin' Hearts (Victoria Playhouse Petrolia) Cowgirls (Georgian Festival Theatre) and Colors In The Storm (Theatre Aquarius).

Centaur Theatre is located at 453 St François-Xavier in Old Montreal. For tickets call the box office at (514) 288-3161.