(LK) Kentish Times www.bexleytimes.co.uk Thursday 27th May 2010 25 Times OUT with Eric Brown, Tom Hart Dyke, Edward Martyn and Lois Edmett What’sWhat’s OnOn Broadway Theatre, Catford , SE10 Maid becomes Madame 020 8690 0002 020 8858 7755 broadwaytheatre.org.uk greenwichtheatre.org.uk CLECTICISM really is the order of text is fundamental. tively and intelligently to draw the audience Big Box of Bananas Dangerous Liaisons the day at EdwardAlderton Thedirector’scollaboration with the pro- into the maids’ dark sado-masochistic world. June 3, 2pm Until May 29, Tues to Sat It is also good to see that the programme ETheatre, writes Steve Spencer. duction team must be commended. Theset £8.50 7.30pm, Wed&Sat mat includes some useful talking points provided Theproduction of Jean Genet’s The Maids,a and costume designs are well- thought-out: 2.30pm £10 -£15 by the director.Hint, hint! Whynot more of scandal in its day for the stark portrayal of the opulence of Madame’sbedroom is The Churchill, Bromley Someone Who’ll Watch this for future productions? brooding working-class resentment, is the lat- appropriately oppressive.Her tailored 0844 8717 620 Over Me This play takes the audience on achallenging est offering from this Bexleyheath company. wardrobe contrasts perfectly ambassadortickets.com/ June 2, 7.30pm journey but it’sachallenge which has surely Ian Long has been painstaking in his with the drabness of the Bromley £10 -£12.50 earned the company another feather in its cap. research and preparation and directs an intel- maid’suniform. Wife after Death transitions ● The last production of the season is 1940s ligent and engaging play. Lighting Monday,May 24-May 29 The OrchardTheatre, were used effec- Revue running July 8-17. Yousimply feel he has taken his cast and 7.45pm, Thurs &Sat mati- Dartford stage crew with him on this illusionary nees. 01322 220 000 journey where the maids act out elabo- CONFUSED £26-£18 orchardtheatre.co.uk rate role-plays in the absence of their EMOTIONS: George’sMarvellous Stepping Out mistress as ameans to overcome their The Maids. Medicine Monday-Saturday,May 24- oppressive circumstances. June 1to5,Tues 7pm, all 29, 7.30pm Wed&Sat mati- Rachel de Silva (Claire) and Linda Gay other days 2pm and 7pm. nees (Solange) are well-cast as the sisters who £17.75 £27.50-£16 resent everything Madame stands for. Chris &Pui Ashamed and degraded because of their /Ashcroft May 30, 11am, 2pm poverty,their secret ceremonies of revenge Theatre, £9 -£11 allow Claire to fulfill her dream of wealth by 020 8688 9291 The Lady Boys of Bangkok ‘playing’ Madame,and the self-loathing fairfield.co.uk June 1, 7.30pm Solange to satisfy her desires of being aworthy Dreamboats and £18.50 -£20.50 maid by beating down her resentful mistress. Petticoats Jus’ like that Both actors convey confused emotions: for Monday-Saturday,May 24- June 3, 7.45pm £19.50 one,anintriguing blend of dominance and May 29, 7.45pm. Wed&Sat submissiveness; for the other,humiliation and escapist fantasy. matinee £23.50. Warehouse Theatre, Aysev Ismail (Madame), whose smaller part Jools Holland and his Croydon on stage is no less important in this ‘unreal’ Rhythm and Blues 020 8680 4060 world, commands ahaughty presence,mini- Orchestra warehousetheatre.co.uk mal in her movement, betraying her prefer- May 27, 8pm Naked Soldiers ence for Claire and her diffidence to Solange. £27.50 -£29.50 Until June 20, Her resistance to drinking the laced tea –the Superslam Wrestling Tues 6.30pm, WedtoSat means to kill her off –was tantalisingly plau- May 28, 7.30pm 8pm, Sun 5pm. sible. £8 -£12 They deliver their lines (and there are lots Woodville Halls, to learn!) assuredly: overplaying where , Gravesend necessary,revealing fear and vulnerability, SE10 01474 337774 chiding and deploying cutting insults. 020 8858 9256 gravesham.gov.uk My one minor quibble is the couple of galleontheatre.co.uk Jimmy Jones occasions towards the frenzied climax of the Night Mother May 28, 8pm. £20 play where anger and resentment boil over. Until June 20, Tues to Sat Noddy in Toyland Lines are rushed and so delivery becomes 7.30pm Sun 4pm June 3, 1pm. £10 -£12 unclear,which is apity as the ‘poetry’ of the £12, £10

The perfect match At Battersea Dogs &Cats Home, we have 150years experience rehoming dogs to the right new owners. This wealth of experience and expertise ensures that when you rehome adog from Battersea you can be surethat it will be aperfect match. For further information about rehoming adog or cat from us, please visit one of our centres at Battersea, Old Windsor or Brands Hatch or call 02076223626. Youcan start the process online at www.battersea.org.uk

Battersea Dogs &Cats Home, 4Battersea Park Road, SW8 4AA