Greenwich Playhouse

9 June – 5 July 09

A review by Jafar Iqbal for EXTRA! EXTRA!

Performing modern adaptations of old classics has always been a staple of the theatre world - bring such a play into the twentieth century and it is immediately met with great curiosity and expectation. Knowing how something written long ago could be relevant in today’s society has always led to a generous amount of intrigue. So it’s no surprise then that The Maids, written by Jean Genet in 1948, was quite an appealing prospect. Add to this the fact that the production has returned to Greenwich after thirty-five long years and you have a play that, well, carries with it great curiosity and expectation.

Genet does not disappoint with his story, that’s for sure. Two sisters, both working as maids and both fed up with their lives, plot to kill their Madame. The elder sister is driven in her desire for revenge, whilst the youngest is more hesitant; together though, they slowly move towards the brink of insanity in their obsession with gaining freedom. Madame, conveniently, is too preoccupied with her love for Monsieur to suspect them. Whether the maids are successful sets up the climax of these intense ninety minutes, directed by Gael Colin.

The intensity of the play rests solely on the performance of the three characters; and namely the two sisters. Emilija Ellen, who plays the elder Solange, is outstanding. From her subtle mannerisms throughout the production to the strength with which she delivers her lines, her performance is admirable; her monologue towards the end of the play is a must-watch and arguably the best phase of the production. Irena Grgona is not far behind as younger sister Claire, countering Solange’s bitter hatred with slightly more sweetness. At times, however, her dialogue seems forced and, while Ellen’s delivery is impeccable, Grgona’s reminds us that we are watching a rehearsed production. Claire Spence is strong in her role as Madame, though her part could be seen as little more than a cameo.

The set is remarkably simple; laid upon a plain white sheet are all the needed props with the rest all thought up in the actor’s imagination. The simplicity of the stage places more emphasis on the actors’ performances, which is a major positive, but minor problems within that simple staging hurt the production. A digital camera’s feed was projected onto the white sheet, but seemed to stop working halfway through the play; this meant certain devices attempted by the cast did not play out the way they hoped. What seemed like occasional lighting glitches also hindered the performance and, while there is always a risk of technical errors, such an intense and claustrophobic setting highlighted these problems more than it should have done. However, the actors made the most of their resources and limitations and, as stated earlier, the simplicity of staging meant more focus was placed on the performances themselves; and, of course, the actors delivered.

The topic of digital cameras and projectors, however, is perhaps my main criticism of the production. As well as those two props, we also had an alarm clock and mobile phone, alluding to the twenty-first century; but, other than occasional references to contemporary culture, this was about it. In having minimal lighting and staging, the director also prevents the production from fully realising the contemporary adaptation it was supposed to be. Take out all of the twenty-first century references and the play would have been just as successful.

The success is of the production is clearly in the performances, though, and they still make this a play worth watching. There is arguably room for improvement, but that doesn’t stop this from being a good production. The actors make this production what it is. I personally would not class this is a proper modern adaptation, but strip away all the layers and you’re left with three fine performances of a great script.

£12, £10 (concessions)

Tue – Sat 8.00pm, Sun 4.00pm

Greenwich Playhouse, Greenwich Station Forecourt, 189 Greenwich High Road, London SE10 8JA

http://www.galleontheatre.co.uk

Tel: 020 8858 9256

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