The Maids
Thu, 21 May 2009, 08:19 amGordon the Optom1 post in thread
The Maids
Thu, 21 May 2009, 08:19 am‘The Maids’ (‘Les Bonnes’) is a play by the French dramatist Jean Genet. It is based on the notorious Papin sisters from Le Mans, who murdered their employer and her daughter. First performed in Paris in 1947, the MOXY collective have revived the play at The Blue Room Theatre in Northbridge until the 6th June, with all shows at 8pm. This is a 90-minute production with no interval.
The year is 1920, and two sisters, who are housemaids in a wealthy household, are in the owner’s bedroom. Solange (‘sun’ - Ingrid Hartwig), still in her rubber kitchen gloves, is mentally soaking up the opulence, at the same time as Claire (‘light’ - Caitlin McLaughlin) enjoys trying on her employer’s best outfits, whilst ‘Madame’ is out of the house. They concoct intricate routines, with one playing Madame in an over-the-top manner and the other her slave. An enactment, which they intend, in their minds, will lead to the death of their mistress – but they always run out of time, when the mistress returns early.
‘Madame’ (Caitlin Beresford-Ord), who is an arrogant, patronising bourgeoisie, and whose best friend is her mirror, returns broken hearted because her lover has been locked up by the police. Solange promises her mistress, she will never to abandon her. The affluent mistress says she is through with her ‘excessive life’, and that the girls shall inherit all her gowns and furs.
The schizophrenic sisters even have a deep dislike of each other, yet a respect through fear. In their mistress’s presence, they change into grovelling servants – but not for long. Solange, the older and more evil sister, imagines a funeral ceremony, which amazingly involves whips, mental torture and hangmen. When the death does come, will things ever be happy and normal again?
In his youth, Genet actually lived the social misery seen in most of his novels and plays. Born in 1910 to a prostitute, who gave him away to an orphanage, Jean never saw his mother again. He had a miserable existence as a homosexual, a prostitute, a thief, and a convict. Hence ‘The Maids’ is a disturbing tale about excessiveness of some, and the resultant effects on the minds of those who have nothing – not even, if the truth be told, each other.
Powerfully directed by Renée Newman-Storen, this play held the audience riveted for the full 90 minutes. The outstanding trio of actors portrayed a total image of the three women. The two sisters with their rapid mood swings and their truly wicked minds, filled the stage with a disturbing air. The mistress, who, whilst dripping in jewels and furs, had the typical Marie Antoinette attitude of ‘let them eat cake’.
Cherie Hewson’s set and the costumes of the maids were both basically black, with the dress patterns matching the wallpaper design, emphasising how the maids in the house were ‘nothing’ and in essence part of the furniture. The walls had rich drapes to show the opulence. Madame’s dress was amazing, with tight bodice and a magnificent bustle.
The lighting design, by Lisa McCready, employed superb use of filter colours and extreme angles to emphasise the horror of the situation. The sound design by Felicity Groom - Winner, 2008 WA Top Song Competition for Triple J Unearthed – had a subtle, quiet mix of tintinnabulation and French street sounds with barrel organs. Wonderful.
Anyone thinking of an acting career, or find that their performances aren’t up to scratch, would be well advised to see this show and experience what total involvement in your part is all about. A gruelling topic, but a truly brilliant show.
‘The Maids’ (‘Les Bonnes’) is a play by the French dramatist Jean Genet. It is based on the notorious Papin sisters from Le Mans, who murdered their employer and her daughter. First performed in Paris in 1947, the MOXY collective have revived the play at The Blue Room Theatre in Northbridge until the 6th June, with all shows at 8pm. This is a 90-minute production with no interval.
The year is 1920, and two sisters, who are housemaids in a wealthy household, are in the owner’s bedroom. Solange (‘sun’ - Ingrid Hartwig), still in her rubber kitchen gloves, is mentally soaking up the opulence, at the same time as Claire (‘light’ - Caitlin McLaughlin) enjoys trying on her employer’s best outfits, whilst ‘Madame’ is out of the house. They concoct intricate routines, with one playing Madame in an over-the-top manner and the other her slave. An enactment, which they intend, in their minds, will lead to the death of their mistress – but they always run out of time, when the mistress returns early.
‘Madame’ (Caitlin Beresford-Ord), who is an arrogant, patronising bourgeoisie, and whose best friend is her mirror, returns broken hearted because her lover has been locked up by the police. Solange promises her mistress, she will never to abandon her. The affluent mistress says she is through with her ‘excessive life’, and that the girls shall inherit all her gowns and furs.
The schizophrenic sisters even have a deep dislike of each other, yet a respect through fear. In their mistress’s presence, they change into grovelling servants – but not for long. Solange, the older and more evil sister, imagines a funeral ceremony, which amazingly involves whips, mental torture and hangmen. When the death does come, will things ever be happy and normal again?
In his youth, Genet actually lived the social misery seen in most of his novels and plays. Born in 1910 to a prostitute, who gave him away to an orphanage, Jean never saw his mother again. He had a miserable existence as a homosexual, a prostitute, a thief, and a convict. Hence ‘The Maids’ is a disturbing tale about excessiveness of some, and the resultant effects on the minds of those who have nothing – not even, if the truth be told, each other.
Powerfully directed by Renée Newman-Storen, this play held the audience riveted for the full 90 minutes. The outstanding trio of actors portrayed a total image of the three women. The two sisters with their rapid mood swings and their truly wicked minds, filled the stage with a disturbing air. The mistress, who, whilst dripping in jewels and furs, had the typical Marie Antoinette attitude of ‘let them eat cake’.
Cherie Hewson’s set and the costumes of the maids were both basically black, with the dress patterns matching the wallpaper design, emphasising how the maids in the house were ‘nothing’ and in essence part of the furniture. The walls had rich drapes to show the opulence. Madame’s dress was amazing, with tight bodice and a magnificent bustle.
The lighting design, by Lisa McCready, employed superb use of filter colours and extreme angles to emphasise the horror of the situation. The sound design by Felicity Groom - Winner, 2008 WA Top Song Competition for Triple J Unearthed – had a subtle, quiet mix of tintinnabulation and French street sounds with barrel organs. Wonderful.
Anyone thinking of an acting career, or find that their performances aren’t up to scratch, would be well advised to see this show and experience what total involvement in your part is all about. A gruelling topic, but a truly brilliant show.