L’Ardennais (France) English Translation 29th September 1997 Joanne is Bonne [maid/good] She has a big smile and lovely hair. She’s called Joanne Foley and she comes from Perth in Australia. Past student of the puppet school, who left Charleville in 1990, she has never forgotten the festival. She’s returned this year with a pocket sized show, presented in the street. “Les Bonnes” [The Maids/Chair] is inspired by a play of Jean Genet. In a quarter of an hour, Joanne sets up an ambience around a simple and big chair. La bonne [the maid/the good] Joanne puts on an act, sings and dances and manipulates a puppet head. Fifteen little minutes of miniature theatre to shape a universe made up of harshness, anger, resentment and escape. The chair reveals unexpected treasures. A tiny booth and even a kind of sunny beach. It is without pretension but nicely held together, full of sensitivity, and intriguing enough to catch the eye of a passer by. Who doesn’t necessarily understand English but suspects that here is a good opportunity to let oneself go.