Tonight's version of The Maids is played by men - apparently the original intention of writer Jean Genet (1910-1986). Other performances have a female cast. The setting of the play, in this translation from the original French by Neil Bartlett, is moved from France to India. That hardly matters; it could be set anywhere - Jean Genet's focus is on the accidents of fate that set one person over another socially and economically.

The set - by designer Sāmir Bhamra - provides just enough hints of decadence to suggest the mood, and some threatening music, by Alex Morgan, plays before the opening. This sets up a lot of expectation, though the music used in snatches through the play is often mystifying. It's fair to say that this production only delivers erratically.

The maids are Claire (Robby Khela) and Solange (Jeremy Williams). Far from being attached to their Madame (Pritesh Chauhan), as she imagines, they have already denounced her partner to the police and are busy plotting her death. This is more, it has to be said, out of boredom than anything else - there are no dreams of liberation here. While Madame is away, they play games in the house, with sex and power as the focus.

The playing is a little uneven. Robby Khela eventually settles into his role as Claire, and is the most successful of the three in establishing his character - but big lines are swallowed all over the place. The men play the women with only a hint of camp - they are quite clearly men playing women, just as the maids play at being Madame. This is a brave option, underlining the illusion of players and roles, but it does mean that it is often difficult to suspend disbelief.

Given the reputation of Jean Genet - he spent much of his life writing about the underworld in which he had lived - The Maids is not perhaps as scandalous as it once seemed. Looked upon as a dark fairytale which reverses the moral polarity of traditional tales, it just about works. But to transform itself into something bigger, there's a need to become absorbed in the characters of Claire and Solange - and this never quite happens.

Cast Credits: (female cast, alpha order): Bhavika Mistry - Claire. Kanira Shah - Madame. Zafreen - Solange. (male cast - on tonight - alpha order): Pritesh Chauhan - Madame. Robby Khela - Claire. Jeremy Williams - Solange.

Company Credits: Writer - Jean Genet (1910-1986). Translator - Neil Bartlett. Director - Sāmir Bhamra. Designer - Sāmir Bhamra. Lighting - Alex Morgan. Music - Alex Morgan. Additional Sound - Christopher Hall. Costumes - Leylah. Production Photos - Hitesh Rao. Lighting Operator (Watermans) - Sephyr. Marketing Officer (Watermans) - Angela Hinds. Press (Watermans) - Suman Bhuchar. Company - Phizzical Productions. By Arrangement With - Rosica-Colin & The Agency London. Producer - Robert Nicolaides. Website - www.phizzical.com. Company's Note: Suitable For Ages - 15+.

END

(c) Michael Spring 2009

reviewed Wednesday 25 February 09 / Watermans, London

Fringe Report (c) Fringe Report 2002-2012

www.fringereport.com