We started rehearsing our spring production yesterday, Jean Genet's Maids (I am Solange). The play is based on a true story - two pious little maids went berserk in France in the 1930s, and got rid of their employers in a fairly graphic manner. Given my habit of in-character face-pulling actions when reading/going over my lines in public, I hate to think what this'll make me look like. Glad I won't have to sit next to me on the bus this Spring. (If you do follow that link, be warned, it's really rather harrowing.)
Afterwards saw Ville Valo in the pub. I nearly asked him for his autograph (for my son, I hasten to add - I know about his handshake, remember!) but then bottled out. An endearing side to Finland is how our big celebs and politicians actually drink & shop with us plebs. Of the four presidents we've had in my lifetime (one was in forever, hence so few) I have seen three amongst his/her subjects, pretty much casually minding their own business. I once saw the current pres Halonen shopping at my local grocery shop, with one female minder only. Apparently Halonen also goes to the same belly-dance lessons as my friend Arabella.
Monday, February 26, 2007
Beware, I'm going theatrical again
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4 comments:
Jeez, that is quite upsetting, Anna Mr, I hope you have Solange well out of your system if/when I visit Finland! I want to know more about these maids, were they mad or bad or both?
I think the elder sister (on whom Solange is based) is considered nowadays to have had psychotic schizophrenia - of course in those days, she was just criminal full stop. She was given the death sentence but it was converted into life, the done thing when the perpetrator was a woman. Spoiler alert! Genet's maids don't actually do anyone in, but they are pretty gaga.
We get so used to horror, but this is still particularly gruesome, isn't it? I thought I read some Genet years ago, but have realised it was Ionesco, Rhinoceros, but really can't remember much . . .
I agree, this is somehow particularly hair-raising. The play is pretty strong stuff, too, although sans eye-gouging. Still looking forward to you coming over, promise I won't go solangey on you, heh.
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