L'HÔTEL

by Marisol Medina

L'HÔTEL is a dark comedy about a modern American woman and her religiously conservative, Cuban-born mother. During a hopeless attempt at a bonding trip to Paris, the mother’s greatest fear, a terrorist attack, traps the women in their luxury hotel room with a handsome and helpful Muslim Algerian-Parisian bell boy; causing the women's fluctuating morals, misleading prejudices, violent need to survive and closely...

L'HÔTEL is a dark comedy about a modern American woman and her religiously conservative, Cuban-born mother. During a hopeless attempt at a bonding trip to Paris, the mother’s greatest fear, a terrorist attack, traps the women in their luxury hotel room with a handsome and helpful Muslim Algerian-Parisian bell boy; causing the women's fluctuating morals, misleading prejudices, violent need to survive and closely guarded secrets to come to light.

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L'HÔTEL

Recommended by

  • Iraisa Ann Reilly: L'HÔTEL

    The characters in this play are two comedic women who are put into a situation that is bound to get very dark. It is refreshing to see female characters who need each other more than anything else. Medina explores the intricacy and complicated reality of being a first generation American, and a mother-daughter relationship strained by cultural differences. This play constantly asks the audience to shift perspectives, address hipocracy, and like the character of Eileen, forces us to imagine their lives beyond the surface. A page turner sure to keep an audience engaged.

    The characters in this play are two comedic women who are put into a situation that is bound to get very dark. It is refreshing to see female characters who need each other more than anything else. Medina explores the intricacy and complicated reality of being a first generation American, and a mother-daughter relationship strained by cultural differences. This play constantly asks the audience to shift perspectives, address hipocracy, and like the character of Eileen, forces us to imagine their lives beyond the surface. A page turner sure to keep an audience engaged.

  • Juan Ramirez, Jr.: L'HÔTEL

    The best way to have an out-of-pond and across the pond dark comedy is to set it between a Cuban daughter and her Cuban-born mother. The action of this script is intense, with wonderful visual metaphors of merengue dancing, rosary behind the bed and the safety of strangers. Most times, it takes a bomb to go off in our hearts to push us to share the secrets that hurts us. This play has great power, so give yourself a good orgasmic stretch and prepare for Eileen and Mom to show you a mirror.

    The best way to have an out-of-pond and across the pond dark comedy is to set it between a Cuban daughter and her Cuban-born mother. The action of this script is intense, with wonderful visual metaphors of merengue dancing, rosary behind the bed and the safety of strangers. Most times, it takes a bomb to go off in our hearts to push us to share the secrets that hurts us. This play has great power, so give yourself a good orgasmic stretch and prepare for Eileen and Mom to show you a mirror.

  • Nilsa Reyna: L'HÔTEL

    The characters are rich and the dialogue specific, and I was instantly drawn into the world of the play. You know from the start that this vacation is doomed, yet you're still surprised as the action unfolds. The cast size, single location, and the complicated relationship between two mothers (who also happen to be mother/daughter), make this an ideal play to produce.

    The characters are rich and the dialogue specific, and I was instantly drawn into the world of the play. You know from the start that this vacation is doomed, yet you're still surprised as the action unfolds. The cast size, single location, and the complicated relationship between two mothers (who also happen to be mother/daughter), make this an ideal play to produce.

View all 5 recommendations

Character Information

  • BELL BOY/SALIM
    First-generation-born Parisian of Muslim Algerian descent. He is from a lower-middle-class home. Good-looking, grounded, curious, with a healthy dose of fun, he is a sociology student who is simply trying to do his part-time job. He
    has dreams of a future no one can imagine but him. He has a protective streak and
    helping others is an innate part of his character. He carries a subtle sex appeal
    that can flare up at any time. He lived in Tampa for two years, so his English is
    better than most Parisians, yet he maintains a French accent.

    Note: Bell Boy cannot be much darker skin-toned than Mom or Eileen so the play doesn't become about racism/colorism, but rather keep to the topics of religious and socio-economic prejudice, familial relationships, self-acceptance, being an outsider and first-generation-born.
    Character Age
    22
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    French Arab
    Character Gender Identity
    a cis Male
  • EILEEN
    First-generation American, middle-class, working wife and mother of one. Very American. No trace of Cuban in her character or voice. She is stylish and attractive in an unconventional way. She tries to keep calm but can't help but revert to acting like a teenager when riled up by Mom. Modern, smart, sarcastic with deep-seated insecurities, she desperately seeks an impossible, idealized mother-daughter relationship with Mom.
    Character Age
    42 (looks age or younger)
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    Cuban
    Character Gender Identity
    a cis Female
  • MOM
    Middle-class, Cuban-born U.S. citizen who proudly maintains her thick Cuban accent. A strong-willed wife and once mother of four, she is energetic, scrappy, funny, childlike, charismatic, and determined. Drama and sacrifice are her lifeblood. She believes nothing is more important than being a mother and keeping a traditional nuclear family. She wears dowdy department store clothes and maintains herself slightly disheveled to prove she is the world's best Catholic. Being PC is not her gift, but dancing with unbridled joy is.
    Character Age
    60's-70's
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    Cuban
    Character Gender Identity
    a cis Female

Development History

  • Type Workshop, Organization Fulton Theatre, Year 2021
  • Type Reading, Organization Fulton Theatre, Year 2021

Awards

  • Princess Grace Awards in Playwriting/Fellowship at New Dramatists
    New Dramatists
    Semi-Finalist
    2021
  • Stories of Diversity: Playwriting Festival
    Fulton Theatre
    Finalist
    2021
  • Plays in Progress Series
    Athena Project
    Finalist
    2020
  • LAB
    Local Theater Company
    Finalist
    2019