Solange and Claire, two sisters and both maids to the same mistress, hide a dark secret behind their solemn looks of obedience. When their mistress is away, the two sisters fill their time roleplaying their deepest desire of revenge, revealing the twisted reality hiding behind their innocent faces.
Anna Popplewell (Solange) and Charlie Oscar (Claire) work together as a brilliant pair, alternating between roleplaying in their scenes and purely acting so effortlessly that it is sometimes difficult to ascertain which is which. Their work together is simply spectacular as they make the audience wonder whether they really would be able to kill with their kindness. Oscar’s performance is particularly commendable as they are able to make the audience warm up to the character, whilst making them ask themselves if they despise Claire or if they wish her to succeed. The mistress is portrayed by Carla Harrison-Hodge, who gives an incredibly haunting performance of a wicked and heartless woman. Playing with tones of voices as well as eerie laughter, Harrison-Hodge’s performance is utterly remarkable.
The stage is rather bare, with a white theme seen throughout the decor, all imagined and brought to life by Cat Fuller. The colour itself is often associated with symbols of innocence, but in the case of this show, the white is used to lay everything bare: to reveal every inch of the personalities of its inhabitants. The walls are white and padded, as if the bedroom are actually an asylum cell. This small detail adds to the eeriness of the story, and works hard to translate the madness of the characters to the audience. The room also features a vanity desk, with a large mirror to reflect the narcissistic nature of its owner. The lighting design by Catja Hamilton is equally as masterful, bringing about significant changes in tones with a simple colour adjustment.
A personal favourite feature of this set must be the use of the large window as a medium for terrifying visions. In moments when the tension was at its highest, Claire looked out of the window and saw (in brief flashes) something she could barely imagine. This is just one of the many moments where the talent of the creative team shone through.
Despite the efforts of the talent on and off stage, the book left something to be desired. There were moments, brief though they were, which left this reviewer slightly confused. This may be due to the short 90 minute run-time, or another little detail, but overall, these brief moments made the show’s conclusion a little perplexing.
Nevertheless, this show, in all its twisted glory, made for an enjoyable 90 minutes, although it could have benefited from a little more time. The performances were masterful, and the creative side utterly thought-provoking.
This production of The Maids was created as a co-production between Jermyn Street Theatre and Reading Rep Theatre, who will host the show from the 28th January to 8th February after its run is completed at the Jermyn Street Theatre.
★★★★☆ (4*)
Gifted tickets in return for an honest review | photography by Steve Gregson
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