Jean Genet (1910-1986), delinquent, thief, poet, novelist, playwright, spent most of his life in reformatories and prison. He had his first critical success in Paris in 1947 with The Maids, a sado-masochistic ritual of servitude and domination played out by two of society’s outcasts. The story is based on a true 1933 murder case in which two servants (who were sisters) killed their mistress for her dresses and jewellery.
There is absolutely no point in underplaying when acting in Genet’s plays; but the way-over-the-top slobbering can become tiresome, and especially in this foul-mouthed translation. However, I doubt if this will stop audiences going to Trafalgar Studios see three well-known and clever actors wallowing in rose petals. Jamie Lloyd’s production has a timely racial twist.
Zawe Ashton’s servant behaves like a female drag queen when she is wearing her mistress’s wig, red gown and teetering on high heels. Ozo Adura is her butch, scheming, screaming, murderous sister. Laura Carmichael is their pampered, spoiled, selfish employer, a gangster’s moll.