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Identity, bias, revenge: a showdown that gets under your skin.

Théâtre français de Toronto, in association with Factory Theatre, is proud to present Bonnes Bonnes, a creation by Nervous Hunter — in its original French — from April 22 to 26 at Factory Theatre (the show is also presented in English from April 15 to 19). Performances are English surtitled. Audiences may also try our augmented reality glasses for a more immersive surtitling experience, with the option to switch between English and French — free of charge, of course.

SYNOPSIS: Three women of Chinese origin gather around a work created by one of their own: a video adaptation of Jean Genet's The Maids, in which two Chinese women play the domestic servants and fantasize about their revenge on Madame.

As they watch the film, the three friends speak openly about their childhood, their love-hate relationship with whiteness, the colonization of their minds — but also about Chinese television, chili sauce, rituals… and the bestseller Crazy Rich Asians. They discuss the evolution of their feelings toward their Chinese identity: from shame to pride, through deep unease, particularly in a world where China's financial and political power continues to grow. Differences between the women begin to surface and tensions rise until Sophie's desire for revenge against whiteness overflows.

Bonnes Bonnes blends documentary theatre, live cooking, video projections and movement to explore how we can heal from the wounds of internalized racism. It is also a big middle finger to everyone who made fun of the smell of their school lunches.

Bonnes Bonnes is a bold reinterpretation of Jean Genet's classic Les Bonnes (1947’s The Maids), reimagined by Sino-Canadian director and performer Sophie Gee through the lens of systemic racism and contemporary colonialism. Where Genet explored the unease of domestic workers torn between the desire to resemble their bourgeois mistress and the urge to take revenge on her, Sophie Gee layers onto this class conflict a reflection on Sino-Canadian identity, internalized racism, and the ambivalence surrounding China's growing presence on the world stage.

The show approaches with humour and depth questions that run through our era: Can we reconcile ourselves with an identity that has long been a source of shame? How do we inhabit multiple cultures at once — neither fully from here, nor fully from there? Does China's economic and diplomatic power bring pride or a new form of anxiety for Asian diasporas in the West?

The staging features a real heat source on which chili sauce simmers throughout the show: the scent of hot peppers and garlic fills the room, evoking the wounds suffered in schoolyards where traditional lunches were mocked. Video projections, movement and documentary theatre interweave to create a fully sensory and emotional experience.

PRESS QUOTES:

"A singular work, imbued with disarming authenticity, exploring otherness from multiple angles."

— Sophie Pouliot, SPIRALE MAGAZINE — April 27, 2023

"One cannot help but be moved by the life stories of the three women. Several powerful scenes stay with you long after the show."

— Karine Tessier, REVUE JEU — April 17, 2023

PRACTICAL INFORMATION:

Text: Tamara Nguyen, Sophie Gee Direction: Sophie Gee Cast: Charo Foo, Tai Wei Meilie Ng, Sophie Gee Set Design: Maryanna Chan Costumes: Jessica Poirier-Chang Lighting: Nine Desbaillet Projection: Amelia Scott Sound: Christine ML Lee Dramaturgy: Sasha Dion via the Centre des auteurs dramatiques
Dates: April 22–26, 2026 at Factory Theatre, 125 Bathurst St, Toronto, ON M5V 2R2
Running time: 85 minutes
Ticket prices: Regular: $60 | Seniors: $50 | Under 30 and Artists: $22.50 | Same-day last-minute tickets: $15, $20, or $25 | Group rate (8 or more): $20 per ticket
Box office: 416-534-6604