Andrea Matherne
Country Roads' annual "Mid City is for Lovers" Valentine's Day Supper Club brings a special "je ne sais quoi" this year.
Though cabaret originated as a type of Parisian venue at the fin de siècle, it quickly evolved into a genre of its own. Despite its underground nature—or maybe because of it—the famed French performance art is continuously re-emerging in contemporary culture, with a particularly strong hold on its American counterpart. Hollywood has produced films inspired by the Moulin Rouge since the age of silent pictures, and theatres adopt new adaptations of Cabaret every year. “La Vie en rose,” the signature ballad of beloved French icon Édith Piaf, was performed by Lady Gaga in the 2018 blockbuster remake of A Star is Born; the narrative arc of Gaga’s character, Aly, who performs in a nightclub at the film’s start and sings in sold-out arenas by its conclusion, is not unlike Piaf’s own rise to international fame from humble roots.
It seems appropriate, then, to celebrate Piaf’s renowned oeuvre at our Valentine’s Day Supper Club. Over French 75 cocktails and crab vol au vents, seasoned New Orleans cabaret performers Philip and Heidi Melancon will serenade diners with chansons, evoking the magic of grand romance and glamour synonymous with the City of Love, sampling from Piaf, as well as classic musical films such as Gigi and An American in Paris.
Based in New Orleans, the husband-and-wife duo have performed dozens of cabaret tributes over the years to a repertoire of legendary French composers, singers, and songwriters, including the discographies of Charles Aznavour, Charles Trenet, and Michel LeGrand.
“We both enjoy rendering a song from the heart to a focused audience,” said Philip Melancon.
Showcasing a feast of French-inspired fare prepared by Chef Jason Roland of Heirloom Cuisine, this Valentine’s Day evening, held at the newly repurposed Electric Depot, would prompt Cupid himself to agree that Mid City is, indeed, for lovers.
