Piaf
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Luzerner Zeitung, Urner Zeitung, Schwyzer Zeitung, Nidwaldner Zeitung, Zuger Zeitung
The lynchpin of the musical PIAF is its main protagonist. Sue Mathys brings intensity and humanity to her portrayal of Piaf that is simply amazing: There is on one hand her singing, sensitively in tune with the content of each individual song, imitating Piaf’s “r” which sits deeply in the throat, and yet reflecting her own interpretation (…) And on the other hand there is Sue Mathys’ own dramatic ability, which brings to life all facets of Edith Piaf’s character: Her vulnerability, her ability to love, her love of life, her penetrating laughter, her self-doubts, disappointments and hope – in short the touching ups and downs of her feelings. In her portrayal, Sue Mathys gets rather frighteningly close to the ideal embodiment of Piaf. (…) Sue Mathys has a full grip on the character – “Standing ovations” are indeed a very rare expression of approval from the somewhat laid back Lucerne public.
Neue Zürcher Zeitung
Sue Mathys thrilled the audience, culminating in standing ovations on the day of the premiere (as well as for the first repeat performance that we visited). She identifies with Edith Giovanna Gassion in an almost frightening manner (…). In doing so, Sue Mathys proves to be not only an excellent interpreter of songs who is able to reproduce true to life Piaf’s timbre, diction and expression, but who, as an actress of high caliber, also expresses all facets of the chanteuse – above all her immense thirst for life despite all blows which fate dealt her. This expression of Piaf’s thirst for life reaches its apex in the last of 20 Piaf-chansons: “Non, je ne regrette rien.”
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Sonntags-Zeitung
That one never feels bored during the performance at Lucerne’s municipal theater, the Stadttheater, is due to some twenty legendary Piaf hits – and above all due to Sue Mathys. In diction and performance, in timbre and vocal quality she convincingly brings to life “The Sparrow of Paris”, even more so, she is The Sparrow of Paris!
But she also gives a great physical performance. For almost three hours, Sue Mathys takes center stage, almost without interruption, staying constantly focused:
Sue Mathys fully meets these demands, with her charisma, stage presence, and voice. Last week, the premiere-audience thanked her for this with twenty minutes of standing ovations at the finale, and they were only satisfied after an encore of two Piaf hits.
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Freundin
Sue Mathy’s presence on the stage is breathtaking. She sings, laughs, screams, drinks, loves, and rages with unabated intensity.
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Aargauer Tagblatt
The casting of the main role is a master coup. Sue Mathys creates more out of this part than the author wrote into it. She renders a frighteningly realistic Piaf. She is so intense and expressive, that one gets goose pimples again and again. In Lucerne’s Stadttheater (municipal theater) the ravishing Mathys plays the role of Piaf in front of the ever-full house. And celebrates triumphs evening after evening. (Züri-Tip)
Sue Mathys proves to be indeed the ideal interpreter of the singer who became famous as “The Sparrow of Paris”: Petite, delicate and fragile, but filled with incredible vitality and a strong booming voice she brings back to life the original woman – or at least the memory of the original – bringing her back to life is so to speak, a wonderful, selfless artistic feat.