C'est la Vie (formerly La Vie Ennui)

Dominique and Fatiguée are a pair of down-at-the-highheels chanteuses working at Chez Leplée, a dingy, dead-end cabaret in 1950 Paris. Henri Leplée, the miserly nightclub owner, insists his two songbirds croon only the songs of their archrival, the famous Edith Piaf, night after night. Bored with this routine, copycat existence, Dominique and Fatiguée, along with their faithful (nonspeaking) pianist Jean-Paul-Pierre, scheme to have their boss "conveniently detained" by the police so that they can finally perform their own material—if only for one night. The result is a charming musical sorbet about life, love and annoying accordion players. The 13 songs range from the hilarious "The Accordionist Song" (about a woman murdering her next-door neighbor accordion student) and "New Jersey" (a love song to the romantic faraway Garden State) to the infectious "It's a Crazy World, N'est-ce Pas?" and "You've Got to Be a Waif" to the poignant "Living in the Cinema" and "The Boys of Days Gone By," as well as the lilting title song. Perfect for high school, college and adult speakers of French! Nonspeakers will love it too, since no knowledge of French is presumed.