Love, Linda
The Life of Mrs. Cole Porter
The wild life of the legendary American musical composer Cole Porter, told by Linda—his wife and muse.
Openly homosexual, he shared with her a thirty-five-year relationship that defied convention, built on a unique and loving companionship. In this portrait of a brilliant, exquisite, and sophisticated woman with a deep love for freedom, Cole Porter’s timeless songs weave the fabric of a fascinating narrative, celebrating the light and shadows of a relationship like no other.
Isabelle Georges, accompanied by a subtly jazzy trio, delivers a moving portrayal of Linda, blending her ethereal voice into the world of the prince of songwriters, who penned over 800 songs for the likes of Marilyn Monroe, Fred Astaire, and Frank Sinatra.
A refined adaptation of an Off-Broadway triumph, exquisitely staged by Tristan Petitgirard.
« What is this thing called love? This crazy thing called love? » Yes, what is this crazy thing called love?
Cole Porter has been part of my life since childhood. It began with Silk Stockings (1955), one of the very first musicals I saw at the cinema in Paris—the Mac-Mahon—with my mother and sister. Then came From This Moment On, my stage debut in a tap number tailor-made by Victor Cuno; the role of Madeline Saint-Maur in Nymph Errant at the prestigious Chichester Festival in the UK, which earned me the front page of the Evening Standard culture section; and finally Les Poitrines de Paris, the lucky charm of my personality show Oh Là Là!
So, when Suzanne Sarquier told me about Love, Linda, saying, “I thought of you right away,” I met the author during one of my concerts in New York, called up Tristan Petitgirard—who I had long dreamed of working with—and, thanks to the lockdown, we adapted the play. How could I resist this extraordinary love story? This hymn to creation? How not to dive into the heart of such a rich and unclassifiable life? To immerse myself in Night and Day, My Heart Belongs to Daddy… To bring Cole Porter’s music and words back to life, perhaps in their most intimate form, by giving a face and a voice to Linda Lee Porter—woman, muse, and lifelong companion.
Isabelle Georges
I’ve always been passionate about musicals, jazz, and music in general! But what draws me most to Love, Linda… is its theatricality. It’s a story—one that is acted, sung, and danced, all at once. Cole Porter’s songs are sublime, but here, with Linda, we dive into the very heart of the emotions that gave birth to them.
With Isabelle Georges, we chose to adapt some of the songs into French, in order to stay as close as possible to the narrative and capture all its nuances. The songs are an integral part of the story. In that sense, I place great importance on the emotional state during their performance—they reveal the inner world of the character, her sorrows and her joys. I approached them like scenes from a play, with actions, movement, and a sung text carried by Isabelle’s sublime voice.
Love, Linda is above all the story of an absolute love between two people—a love all the more rare because it was anything but conventional! What’s more, that love gave birth to some of the most beautiful music of the 20th century. The show invites us on a journey between France and the United States, but also through time, thanks to its scenography. Linda opens the album of her life for us, and with her, we dive into a certain golden age. Cole, told through Linda, is the story of a passionate, strong woman—and in that, the show carries a universal and very contemporary resonance.
You don’t need to know Cole Porter’s music to enter this unique story. And how could I not say how happy I am to be doing this show with Isabelle Georges? She’s an extraordinary artist I’ve admired for a long time, and a dear friend. We were looking for the right project to work on together. Well, here it is, my dear Isabelle! Theatre, music, friendship, love—and of course… Cole Porter!
Tristan Petitgirard
Director
A brilliantly demented singer
The Herald ★★★★
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