The Elm Theatre has another hit on their hands with La Concierge Solitaire presented by the St. Francisville Transitory Theatre through January 25. This one-woman show is entertaining as the wonderfully talented actress Cecile Monteyne takes you on a one hour and change tour through a cast of characters that frequented a once thriving hotel. Now in ruins, the ramshackle structure makes a surreal setting. Directed by Andrew Farrier, who also takes writing credits along with Matthew Norris, La Concierge brings the audience right into the action of a make believe lobby.
Monteyne is a deft at moving from one character to another without missing a beat. From the nasty Manservant who coerces some of the hotel’s female staff into prostitution to the overly pompous Tycoon’s Wife, this talented actress delivers witty and charming performances. The lighting was exceptional and played well with evoking a mood of a bustling hotel or a dilapidated property. The writing is clever and creative, especially the love story between the archaeologist and the maid; not many actresses can pull that off playing both characters on their own at the same time. La Concierge Solitaire premiered at the 2011 Fringe Festival and has been further developed to create this noteworthy production.
The St. Francisville Transitory Theatre has been producing shows in both their namesake city and New Orleans, Louisiana since 2003.
Our lead actress is a New Orleans native who received her Bachelor of Arts in Theatre at Tulane University. She trained in New York and did a professional stint in London. Monteyne’s recent NOLA stage credits include Balm in Gilead and Love, Loss and What I Wore.
The Elm Theatre is located at 220 Julia Street in the Warehouse District. For tickets or more information, go to www.elmtheatre.org.