Louise: The Last Dance
13 August, 16:20
Venue: Greenside @ George Street – Ivy Studio
Rating: ★★★★ 4/5 Reviewer: Paige Kynoch
If you loved the film Moulin Rouge!, you will love this show. If you are also a history nerd, you will love this show too! Witness a show about a woman that the world has completely forgotten, and perhaps never truly knew.
Saint Stella takes on the role of Louise Weber, one of Montmartre’s most infamous and pivotal figures. Known as La Goulue for “consuming everything in front of her”, she is approached by a filmmaker in 1928 while residing in her caravan. From there, we are transported back to Weber’s prime: her midnight escapades, her scandalous invention of the can-can, and her multiple relationships with both men and women. We witness her quick rise to stardom in not only Montmartre but the whole of Paris, and her tragic downfall later in life.
I studied Montmartre at university, and so Stella illuminating the unglamorous side of Montmartre was incredibly important to me, as the general view of the area is that it was the perfect haven for artists, but in reality, it was also where people struggled, creating their art in a world that did not always want it.
The demographic for this show was interesting, as the majority of patrons were middle-aged, with quite a few elderly audience members, which I was not expecting. That being said, the show is recommended for ages 14+, and I, at twenty-one, thoroughly enjoyed it and think it is one for all ages.
In terms of accessibility, a word of warning for those with accessibility requirements: the entrance to the Ivy Studio at Greenside has stairs with no ramp. There may be a removable one indoors, but I did not see one, so it is definitely worth enquiring about. After that, it is flat terrain in the main area and in the theatre, with accessible bathrooms on the same floor.
I would also like to mention that I met a lovely flyerer for the show on my way to the venue (I didn’t catch your name, sorry!), and they not only heavily recommended the show, but also commended the actor on how kind they are, which is always informative, as it is not often you get a peek behind the scenes of Fringe shows.
Saint Stella brings this forgotten woman into the spotlight, making her life and contributions known to the world. She was definitely right about one thing: “this world is not kind to women who want too much”. Louise was a figure of everything that was considered wrong with women and what they should not be, and she took that and transformed it into a career, starting with a dance that changed the dancing world.
Louise: The Last Dance runs through to the 29th of August.
★★★★
