The Independent from London, Greater London, England • 49

of REVIEWS 19 THE INDEPENDENT TABLOID FRIDAY THEATRE The Maids Donmar Warehouse, London here are few certainties in theatre, but it's a on stage, John Crowley's carefully paced production safe bet contemporary that you're playwright unlikely to dramatising find a "the begins doorway. with a Whispering shaft of light gently cutting into each through others' an ears, open servant Writers from Plautus via the two sisters steal into the hushed majesty of Our Strindberg to Jean Marsh with Upstairs Downstairs Lady's bedroom. Crowley -evokes a mysterious found it immensely fertile territory. Genet's hallowed air as the maids circle the luxuriant Louis treatment of the subject in his first produced play Quinze bed, an atmosphere abruptly broken when The Maids, however, remains unique. Niamh Cusack jumps exultantly upon it.

This is not His highly charged tale of two sisters who set some high directorial conceit. Crowley's decision about murdering their mistress and end up cleverly leads us into the play's governing mood. murdering one another is told through a series of The heightened language and power games are part sadomasochistic power games of impersonation and of an almost religious ritual for which an audience role-play, steeped in formal elements of the needs preparation. Catholic Mass. Small wonder that at its Paris There are two major problems facing the director premiere 50 years ago, the press reaction was of The Maids.

The fact that Genet was homosexual almost unanimously hostile. Genet even punched doesn't make this "a homosexual Crowley the critic of Le Figaro for his negative notice. reverts to the original all-female casting, avoiding the Another reviewer wrote of its "unreal characters, common trap of casting men and risking not only strains of a bad sermon and rebellion, and an poorly executed camp but also a blurring of the play's unhealthy sense of obsession" which simultaneously preoccupation with power. The other trap is to bow misses the point and acts as an oddly succinct low before the altar of Genet's high seriousness, a summary of Genet's intent. fate he banishes with David Rudkin's fluent Contrary to the text, which starts with the sisters translation and occasional flashes of bathetic TANGO Gidon Kremer QEH, SBC, London A the encore Elizabeth stage of after Hall the on encore packed the first rolled Queen off the three-piece bandoneon Queen band would Elizabeth of course.

Hall immaculately with Kremer a at night of the South Bank's Meltdown trained conservatory musicians Per Festival, Gidon Kremer's smile Arne Glorvigen, bandoneon, Vadim seemed to indicate that he might Sakharov, piano, and Alois Posch, cheerfully give up all the classics for double bass is the boss, and the the chance of playing the music of balance of the group is changed by Astor Piazzolla. A new love seemed having the violin rather than etched on his face, perhaps a strange bandoneon in the lead. If, at first, in one: a Latvian violinist hooked on an the gloom of blue light, the playing Argentinian's tango? But when did seemed moderately straight-laced, by love or art observe boundaries? the time the encores started, the It's an interesting quirk of fate lights had come up, and a full camera that Piazzolla's nuevo tango should crew was on stage, the music-making now be so by "classical" was loose and magical, the rapport musicians. For it was Nadia between the players one of intimacy Boulanger, that ambassador of and fun. Kremer captured the spirit "classical" modernist music, who of Piazzolla to perfection hinting at packed the young Piazzolla back the roughness, tender with his tone, from Paris to Argentina in the judging the hesitating slides perfectly 1950s, exhorting 1 him to even though the smoke of Buenos revolutionise the tango rather than Aires was nowhere to be found.

mess with straight-laced serialism. Piazzolla's fangos give an almost No doubt she recognised his Cubist perspective to the form. The extraordinary lyrical gifts, gifts that sensuality, raunchiness and could never have found expression melancholy of sweet bitterness sway within serialism's narrow confines. over the syncopations of the tell-tale In Britain, Piazzolla was hardly rhythm but there's always a surprise, detected before his death in 1992 at an unusual harmony or colour the age of 71. His first appearance rasping behind the bridge, tapping was at the Almeida in 1985; attempts on wood or a turn from yearning at negotiating a UK tour for 1987 sweetness to astringent insistence.

were thwarted by the after-effects of The programme re-lived, in the the Falklands war. In London, he main, the repertoire from their played with a quintet comprising sensational CD, Hommage violin, double-bass, guitar, piano. Piazzolla. Even the Georgian Piazzolla himself was on bandoneon- composer Giha Kancheli provided the ultimate squeeze box and very an encore, a small jewel: "Instead of much the leader. The band had a a He too is touched by the roughness, an earthiness, through Piazzolla spell.

which the poignant cry of the Annette Morreau these as to the manner born, he also gave a forthright account of Chopin's Barcarolle, sensitive performances of Chopin's Op 59 Mazurkas and a wellshaped one of the epic fourth Ballade. The series has been a noble undertaking and Roscoe is not only an exceedingly reliable and consistent pianist, he is also irrepressible. But some of his most enjoyable playing has been of Debussy and, on this final night, he evoked all the sensuousness and orchestral depth you could expect in four from the second book of Preludes. Igor Zhukov has waited a long time to give his first recital in London, which he did at the Wigmore Hall on Wednesday. Now in his early sixties, Zhukov spent several Totally devoted: Kerry Fox as Solange kissing the foot of Niamh Cusack's Claire Photo: Geraint Lewis his actors' performances which, although impressive, are oddly disconnected.

(For once, sitting at the side of the Donmar is not like watching through glass). Swathed in Tim Hatley's well-cut New Look black-and-white check and adorned with fur, Josette Simon has a nicely petulant hauteur as Our Lady but occasionally you feel you are watching her acting rather than her character being playful. Niamh Cusack's sinuous, insidious Claire is similarly detached at first but she gradually slips into the rhythm. Kerry Fox is bravely sullen as Solange and by the fierce climax, beautifully counterbalanced by the poignant strains of a musical jewel box, her soundless weeping is hugely eloquent. It's a testament to a production which, although low on eroticism, grows in intensity.

Aided by Rick Fisher's cunningly manipulative lighting, it some way towards convincing you that this is that you can actually enjoy rather than merely admire. Booking: 0171-369 1732. To 9 Aug David Benedict humour. "She loves us," says Claire, "as she loves the pink ceramic of her lavatory pan." He is, however, better at staging than shaping XILIXIENT "THE KEY TO HAPPINESS IS HAVING DREAMS THE KEY TO SUCCESS IS MAKING THEM COME TRUE Explore and enjoy the company of new, interesting, openminded, unpretentious, single people with humour and integrity. make new friends and develop honest, sincere relationships "CREATING TOGETHERNESS" GOOD CONNECTIONS 01865 511774 Personal, caring introductions from a truly individual company based in OXFORD and covering OXFORDSHIRE, BUCKS, BERKS, HERTS.

WARKS.F NORTHANTS, GLOS. WILTS, BATH and BRISTOL, UP THIS NEWSPAPER AND YOU If you have a complaint about an item in this newspaper which concerns inaccuracy, intrusion, harassment or discrimination, write to the editor about it. If you're still dissatisfied you can write to the Press Complaints Commission, an independent organisation established to uphold an editorial Code of Practice for the Press. THIS NEWSPAPER ABIDES BY THE PCC'S DECISIONS PC 1 SALISBURY SQUARE LONDON EC4Y Telephone 0171 353 1248 Facsimile 0171 353 8355 This space has been donated by the publisher CLASSIFIED Hearts Exclusive Introductions Kent Sussex Surrey Personal Interviews Professional Service Tel: 01293 882426 0891 660 943 chat link GAY LINK 0891 244 293 WEB COM Pa Box 2014 RH20 tYB Calls charged al 50p at alt times SEEKING ROMANCE? Phone David now on 0181 962 6300 for our new full colour information pack. Loving Links is the UK's friendliest Newsletter dating resource with FREE CONSULTATION and HELPLINE for our subscribers.

Nationwide Discreet Efficient LOVING LINKS Suite 401, 302 Regent Street London WIR 6HH 0181 962 6300 (anytime) Charities CARING FOR THE MENTALLY ILL IN THE COMMUNITY The Matthew Trust was formed 20 years ago and in that time period has helped 7,300 individuals who had nowhere else to turn to for assistance and were desperate. With your support we will be able to help many many more. Should you personally have suffered or know of someone close to you who has suffered mental illness you will understand how vulnerable these people are. If you are able to make a donation to the work of The Matthew Trust a legacy then please contact us. We would hope that you would also remember us in your Will.

If you would like to know more about the Trust please contact us at the following address: THE MATTHEW TRUST P.O. BOX 604 London SW6 3AG Tel: 0171 736 5976 Fax: 0171 731 6961 Registered Charity 294966 CHILDREN ON DIALYSIS need holidays, so do their families. Before planning your own holidays this year, please spare more than a thought for those children who without your help will never get away at all. Donations urgently needed by The British Kidney Patient Association, Bordon, Hants. GU35 9JZ Reg.

Charity No. 270288 Gifts NURSERY HEIRLOOMS TRADITIONAL ROCKING HORSES Real Leather Brass Accessories Genuine Horsehair Mane Tail Hand-made to order Ring: 01372 454722 Legal Notices No. 002337 of 1997 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUSTICE CHANCERY DIVISION COMPANIES COURT IN THE MATTER OF AUTOMOBILE ASSOCIATION HOLDINGS LIMITED AND IN THE MATTER OF THE COMPANIES ACT 1985 NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Order of the High Court of Justice (Chancery Division) dated 18th June 1997 confirming the reduction of the Share Premium Account of the, above named Company £44,499,801 to £26.019.801 was registered by the Registrar Companies on the 20th day of June 1997. Dated this 23rd day of June 1997 Herbert Smith Exchange House Primrose Street London EC2A 2HS Solicitors for the Company Tel: 0171 374 8000 Fax: 0171 496 0043 Ref: 127 Cars for Sale PEUGEOT 306 XSi 95m Metallic diablo red. 14,000 miles, as new condition.

ESR remote central locking, alarm, key pad immobiliser, alloys, airbag, £9250. (baby forces sale) Tel: 0171 401 2562 RENAULT CLIO VERSILLES 1.2, Metallic green finish month Tax 2yr extended warantee Pioneer F.O stereo Sun roof Tinted windows Immobiliser. June 1996 Reg. Day: 0171 293 2675. Evening: 0181 550 1285 £6,800.

Bargain! years conducting and running the New Moscow Chamber Orchestra, which he has now disbanded. He seemed extremely relaxed, aiming at breadth and smoothness, with an almost languid approach to rhythm in energetic movements. At times, he tended to over-pedal, and ran movements together without breaks. The most rewarding performances were of Scriabin's Second and Third Sonatas, in which Zhukov's penchant for floating sounds in a sonorous haze seemed more idiomatic. In the Third Sonata, the way he made the middle of the second movement into an intangible, luminous vision was extraordinarily imaginative, altogether transcending Scriabin's notation.

Adrian Jack Unusual Gifts A NEWSPAPER for that special date, 1642-1997, most titles available. Ideal birthday gift. Remember When. Tel: 0181-688 6323. Or CALL FREE 0500 520 000.

To advertise in this section please call the Classified Team on 0171 293 2222..