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THE MAIDS Tonight

Posted by:	sergius 11:15 pm EDT 08/08/14

A farce. And not intentionally. It's a French play, of course, but, since it's performed in an English translation, why Huppert? She speaks a very thickly accented English which, unfortunately, has the regular effect of making her seem mentally disabled. It's punishing to watch her struggle with a language that she is clearly uncomfortable with, and she appears to be compensating with a most peculiarly antic physical performance that she is also not in command of. She can't even nearly hold her own next to Blanchett though there's something riveting about her determination. As for the play, it's gussied up with a large movie screen in the background upon which are streamed live images of the stage action. Of course Blanchett and Huppert are film stars, but beyond this, why are we in the theatre watching them on a movie screen? It's an empty contrivance. It doesn't bring us closer to the action, it distances us from it. And Huppert's presence here is distancing enough. I would like to say more about the play, but I didn't really hear it. Genet deserves better. THE MAIDS is about, among other things, the subversion of authority. Here it's the author who's subverted. A real head scratcher.

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