Posted by Hayley Beaver on 18 Jan 2020 /
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Currently performing at the Isaac Studio Theatre, Nervous Theatre is performing The Maids. They are on a January 2020 Tour with Seattle being their second stop. This play is written by Jean Genet and is directed by Connor Berkompas. The Maids is loosely based off of the infamous sisters Christine and Léa Papin who murdered their employer and employer’s daughter in 1933. Genet changed the sister’s names to Solange and Claire. The plot follows the sisters who construct elaborate scenes where they role-play the murder of their employer referred to as Madame.
This play was originally written in French and premiered in Paris but was later adopted into English for a production in Britain. This show has been revived in France, England, and the United States multiple different times. One of the alternatives that different productions do is have men play the role of the maids. This production did the gender-swapping of the sisters.
This production did an amazing job setting up the atmosphere of the drama. They did this by having the two actors playing Claire (Sympathie the Clown) and Solange (Connor Berkompas) out on stage already staring into space and slowly doing their makeup or cleaning the chandelier. Lights would dramatically shift color to indicate scene shifts and music was continuously played to put the audience on edge. The stage dressing and use of the space was wisely used. Shadows were used as dramatic effect and there was even the use of monitors being used to show what the actors were recording.
The show consisted of three actors who all brought something to the play. Annabella Joy plays Madame, a person who exemplifies an upper-class woman. Annabella’s acting gave an air of Audrey Hepburn and was wonderfully done. Sympathie the Clown’s acting was loud and demanding so the audience couldn’t take our eyes off of the maid Claire. Connor Berkompas breakdown during the show was amazing and impossible to not watch.
Tickets range from $12 to $18. Content warning for the show is a use of a strobe light.
The Maids by Jean Genet. Presented by special arrangement with Samuel French, In., a Concord Theatricals Company. At Isaac Studio Theatre. January 17 and 18 at 8:00 p.m. and January 19 at 2:00 p.m. Tickets and more info at: nervoustheatre.com.