Elephant NYC Reviews and Tickets

81%

(28 Reviews)

Positive

93%

Mixed

Negative

Members say

Great acting, Absorbing, Ambitious, Entertaining, Great writing

About the Show

Rising Sun Performance Company presents this world premiere drama about a young girl who grows up in a brothel in 19th century France. Part of the 2018 Planet Connections Festivity.

The only world Clérèse has ever known is the Parisian brothel where her mother, Magdith, works as a prostitute. Magdith desperately struggles to protect Clérèse from growing up too fast and out of the clutches of her volatile father. Everything is shaken when a young man arrives at the brothel with his master and Clérèse’s belly begins to grow. Could it be that she will give birth to one of the fantastical elephants that her new love has told her of?

Member Reviews (28)

Great acting, Slow, Thought-provoking, Intelligent, Confusing

See it if you want to explore the feelings of a young, coming-of-age woman in a 19th century Parisian brothel. You do not mind constant scene changes.

Don't see it if you need perfect sound: some soft voices, some over-the-top voicing, dream music overpowering dialogue and acoustics of the room.

Relevant, Enchanting, Tragic, Choppy, Awkward

See it if Touching story of adolescent 19th century French girl born to a prostitute’s life. She has dreams but no way to escape.

Don't see it if Girl was naive about sex and men, despite being raised in a brothel. Actors did not project their voices well. Stereotyped characters

Confusing, Thought-provoking, Slow, Elaborate, Fanciful

See it if Imaginative situations intregue you. It is a dreamy representation of life in a Bell Epic Parisian brothel.

Don't see it if You expect realism or inderstanding of the issues & actions of the main characters. Also important scenes are randomly played in French.

Clever, Entertaining, Slow

See it if It's about a young girl growing up in a prostitution house in France. And about her coming into Womanhood

Don't see it if If you have a problem with prostitution there's some nudity there are cursing. Read more

Smart, Bold, Exhilarating, Touching, Strong script

See it if you want to hear a unique theater voice engage difficult material in an innovative way with fascinating, satisfying results.

Don't see it if you are expecting slice-of-life naturalism or if the thought of 90 minutes in a fin-de-siecle Parisian brothel makes you queasy. Read more

Great acting, Great staging, Great writing

See it if You want to see a play that has a chance of going to the big leagues!

Don't see it if You can’t deal with some pretty devastating things that happened to a 13-year-old 100+ years ago Read more

Absorbing, Great acting, Great staging, Great writing, Entertaining

See it if You want to see a play about a young lady coming of age while living in a brothel with her mother

Don't see it if You would be offended about a play about prostitution and the effect it has on a young girl living with her mother in a brothel. Read more

Absorbing, Great acting, Great writing

See it if Well done play ..good acting..directing and writing...take s chance and see something new..

Don't see it if You require big sets...the costumes were great too...

Critic Reviews (1)

"Cantisano shines as the innocent, indestructible Clérèse. Men have written quite a lot of plays about prostitution, so the female-driven ensemble’s work is quite refreshing—both emotionally accessible and bittersweet. 'Éléphant' shows it is possible to be thirteen and female and bold and pregnant and happy and still have faith. Squitieri and Hogan expertly juggle a large, busy ensemble...This play offers a glimpse into the true power of a young person’s imagination."
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Trailer

Creative team