Quick Guide: The Maids

By Students' Academy

“The Maids” by Jean Genet is a French play titled “Les Bonnes.” The play was first performed on 17th of April, 1947, in Paris.
The play was adapted into a movie in the year 1974. It was also adapted for a chamber opera in the year 1994.

The play is loosely based on the real life infamous sisters Christine and Lea Papin. In 1933, these sisters were inhumanely killed by their employer and her daughter in Le Mans, France.

Quick Guide: The Maids
Copyright
Chapter One: Introduction
Chapter Two: Plot Overview
Chapter Three: Major Characters
Chapter Four: Complete Summary
Chapter Five: Critical Analysis

• Language: English
• Publisher: Raja Sharma
• Release date: Nov 29, 2014
• ISBN: 9781310694219

Students' Academy

Easy study guides for the students of English literature.

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Quick Guide: The Maids

Copyright

Quick Guide: The Maids

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Chapter One: Introduction

The Maids by Jean Genet is a French play titled Les Bonnes. The play was first performed on 17th of April, 1947, in Paris.

The play was adapted into a movie in the year 1974. It was also adapted for a chamber opera in the year 1994.

The play is loosely based on the real life infamous sisters Christine and Lea Papin. In 1933, these sisters were inhumanely killed by their employer and her daughter in Le Mans, France.

The first performance of this play in England was presented in French language by the Institute of Contemporary Arts. It was performed in London in 1952 at the Mercury Theatre.

The first English version of this play was performed on 5th of June 1956 at Lindsey Theatre Club.

The play was first performed in the United States in New York at Tempo Playhouse in 1955.

The play was eventually revised in 1973 at the Greenwich Theatre. It was also filmed for the American Film Theatre series in 1974.

In the year 1992, an all-male production of the play was performed in Moscow. At that time the Russian theatre was in hope of getting such a major breakthrough.

In the year 2011, The Maids was performed in Toronto, Ontario. Both male and female actors acted in that performance.

Sydney Theatre Company produced The Maids in 2013. Then this production reached New York City in the month of August 2014.

Chapter Two: Plot Overview

Madame has two maids, Claire and her older sister Solange, working in her house.