The French absurd comedy “The Maids” will open April 20-22, bringing a night of miscommunication and drama to Sterling College April 20-22 at 8 p.m. Written by French playwright Jean Genet and translated by Bernard Frechtman, students will present the play with a unique twist of six actresses instead of the traditional three.

“The two sisters, Claire and Solange, are maids who work for Madame, and ‘The Maids’ is about how she impacts their lives and how they see themselves through her. Throughout the play, they take turns acting out Madame and each other while taking part in this ceremonial ritual they have created to cope with the overbearing nature of their boss,” said Samantha Kennedy, director of “The Maids” and assistant professor of theatre arts.

“Because the play is absurdist, it is interpreted in many different ways. We’ve interpreted it a step further, in a different way because normally there are three characters in it; the two maids and Madame. I’ve decided to add what we are calling ‘the shadows.’ Each character has the shadow of themselves following them around, so throughout the play they communicate with other people but they also communicate with themselves as another physical being there that no one else can see. It has brought something really different to the play than what I have seen before,” said Kennedy.

“The Maids” is also the senior performance for Kalie King of Corona, California, who plays Madame.

“I honestly don’t know who would have been Madame if it wasn’t Kalie,” said Kennedy. “She brings something so powerful to it. She is able to match all of the things the maids have built up throughout the play about Madame, and although her time on stage is brief, it has such an impact on the play. It allows the audience to put together the whole story really well.”

“The Maids” will open at 8 p.m. with doors opening at 7:30 p.m. Ticket prices are $10 for adults and $5 for children, students and seniors. Tickets can be purchased in the box office the night of the performance, beginning at 7 p.m.

The cast of “The Maids” features: Kalie King of Corona, California, as Madame; Joanna Maxwell of Corona, California, as Madame’s Shadow; Courtney Swanson of Corona, California, as Claire; Claire Zerull of North Richland Hills, Texas, as Claire’s Shadow; Katie O’Brien of Upland, California, as Solange; and Mishelle Kulick of Lake Elsinore, California, as Solange’s Shadow.

Sterling College is a Christ-centered, four-year college located in Sterling, Kansas, with a mission to develop creative and thoughtful leaders who understand a maturing Christian faith. For more information, visit www.sterling.edu.