The Jamie Lloyd Company’s first production of 2016, is a disturbing tale of two maids who fantasise about killing their mistress – but is it chilling enough for critics?
The Guardian: ****Michael Billington found that: ” Even if Genet’s perversion of religious ritual is sacrificed, this is a highly impressive, deeply political production of a lost landmark.”
The Telegraph: *** Dominic Cavendish was slightly less enthusiastic saying: “The verbose, repetitive interactions and bickering power-play form inescapable elements (and limitations) of the original, but there’s also too much that’s crude and cryptic about the free “translation”, co-written by Australian director Benedict Andrews and Andrew Upton.”
The Stage: *** Mark Shenton wrote that: “The production skates along on shiny surfaces rather than probe the play’s murkier territories.”
The Reviews Hub: **** (and a half!) Daniel Perks commented: “ultimately, Jamie Lloyd and the cast breathe a whole new life into Jean Genet’s timeless writing.”
WhatsOnStage: **** Michael Coveney commented: “Jamie Lloyd is punching up his modern classic revivals at the Trafalgar Studios.”
Evening Standard: *** Henry Hitchings summed the production up saying: “Visual trickery and brash music can’t mask the unevenness of Genet’s writing or the essentially one-note nature of this interpretation.”
Time Out: **** Alice Saville described the production as: “an intensely stylish tale.”
Exeunt Magazine: “Despite its undeniable power – and the unequivocal joy of seeing an all-female, multi-racial cast in such a high profile production – the piece doesn’t bite quite as hard as it could.”
The Gay UK:***** “This has to be one of the most intriguing productions in The West End right now.”
Mature Times: “There is absolutely no point whatsoever in underplaying when acting in Genet’s plays; but the way-over-the-top slobbering becomes tiresome in this foul-mouthed version.”
The Maids is on at the Trafalgar Studios until the 21st May. To book tickets visit: Ticketmaster.co.uk, ATG Tickets, Discount Theatre.com, Last Minute.com, Theatre Tickets Direct.co.uk, Love Theatre.com, Theatre People.com and UK Tickets.co.uk.