Reviewed by Tony Annicone
Providence College’s Theatre Department’s current show is “The Maids” by Jean Genet. It is based loosely on a true historical story which occurred in Le Mans, France in 1933 where two sisters Christine and Lea Papin brutally murdered their employer and her daughter. The two sisters, Claire and Solange, have been trained to be exceptional servants where they work for Madame and Monsieur. They feel that they are treated like outcasts and looked down upon by their high society employers where one mustn’t break the servant/mistress barrier. Claire, the younger more head strong girl, likes to dress up and pretend to be the Madame when her employer is out of the house. Solange joins her in this role playing by casting aspersions on the Madame by saying she considers them worthless like filth beneath her feet. However the husband has been put in jail by the sisters and when the Madame returns to the house, she tells the maids she will stand by her husband no matter what happens.
An unexpected event happens that throws Claire into a tizzy while Solange tries to calm her down. Genet then gives Solange inspired five page monologue lines about speaking up for the working class versus their wealthy employers. A surprising ending occurs that audiences found startling back in 1947 when the show was first written. Director Erin Joy Schmitt returns to her Alma Mater to direct this highly charged drama with elements of comedy along the way.( I last saw Erin when I reviewed her as Mrs. Johnstone in “Blood Brothers” at PC back in 1999.) She obtains strong performances from these three students in their examination of psychological relationships between the upper and lower class.
Grace Dolan does a marvelous job as the off-kilter sister, Claire. She is gangbusters in this role commanding the stage with her acting prowess. Claire feels that as the younger sister she can’t live up to the high standards set by her sister. Claire delights in playing the lady of the house and lording it over her older sibling who in turn is pretending to be Claire. She definitely makes you pay attention to her every line especially her long monologues at the start of the show.
Sydney Cahill is very chilling as Solange as she captures the soul of this mistreated girl. Her misguided and bizarre relationship with her sister comes through in her actions of being strict and then giving into her every whim. Both of these maids can be viewed as bitches on wheels with their behavior. Madame is excellently played by Halle Pratt who played Portia in “Something’s Rotten”, the first show of this season. She rules her home with trying to keep her maids on their toes at all times. Halle makes the most of her stage time when she suddenly bestows gifts on the maids but when she learns of Monsieur being released from jail takes them back. The show takes place in 1933 and the gorgeous and ornate set is by Sarah Markley. The splendid 1930’s exquisite gowns are by Chelsea Kerl with the red velvet gown being breathtaking with its elaborate hand stitching. The phenomenal lighting is by Michael Clark Wonson. Be sure not to miss this well acted and directed show, The Maid” which displays the talent of these college actresses splendidly. It is a chilling tale that depicts the division between the upper and lower class but is a cautionary tale for us in these greedy and unsettled times we live in currently.
THE MAIDS (23 to 26 January)
Providence College Theatre Department, Angells Theatre, Eaton Avenue, Providence, RI
1(401)865-2218 or www.providence.edu/theatre
