The Maids
Red Bull Theater revives Jean Genet's thrilling masterpiece of power and subversion.
and Ana Reeder in The Maids
(© Carol Rosegg)
The work's titular characters, Claire (Jeanine Serralles) and Solange (Ana Reeder) have constructed an elaborate ritual, in which they take turns dressing up in the clothes of Madame (J. Smith Cameron) and acting out fantasies of humiliation and revenge. The maids simultaneously love and hate their mistress, wanting to be her, and also to kill her. But most of all, they desperately seek an escape from their own bleak existence.
Genet's language, translated from the original French by Bernard Frechtman, is lushly poetic, yet contains a bitter undercurrent that gives it a biting edge. Serralles is adept at navigating its subtleties, making small changes in rhythm and vocal intonation that can be electrifying.
Unfortunately, Reeder is not as proficient and doesn't seem to fully grasp the style of the play. A lengthy monologue that she delivers towards the end of the show is particularly hard to sit through.
Cameron has only a brief amount of stage time, yet makes a strong impression. Like her servants, Madame is prone to outsized bursts of emotion, and the actress fully commits to this aspect of her character.