Thursday, March 28, 2024

Fringe Review: Joan/Jehanne

Who: Friendly Bear Theatre Company
What: Joan/Jehanne
Length: 35 Minutes
WhereHamilton Fringe Festival Digital Exclusives Series
When: July 15-25, 2021
Tickets: From $5 -$20 via the Hamilton Fringe Festival Box Office

Joan/Jehanne is not the story of Joan of Arc. Though that is who the girl imprisoned in a stark white jail cell will eventually become in the eyes of history, right now she is mostly Jehanne: young, scared, and alone but for the very voices that put her there. 

The set and costumes in this production are without colour; it’s up to Katherine Teed-Arthur’s lone performance as the title role to give this piece vibrancy. And she unquestionably delivers. Teed-Arthur offers an absolute acting masterclass over the course of this production, her powerhouse performance ranging from naive and optimistic to angry and disillusioned to strong and outspoken without missing a beat, all with only disembodied voices to play off of. Though the outcome of this story is one we’ve known for centuries, it’s hard not to wish for a rewrite of history with such a compelling lead.

The angels’ voices, played by Monique Danielle, Simon Gagnon and Lee Stone, manage to be simultaneously soothing and eerie, and their dynamic with the young martyr evolves throughout this piece in a satisfying, though ultimately tragic, way. These voices, paired with the voice of the trial judge (Gagnon) and of Jehanne’s mother (Stone) provide further emotional depth and strife, revealing Jehanne as not only a prisoner of England but also of her destiny.

Among the many strong elements of Joan/Jehanne is a striking, hauntingly beautiful score and soundscape by Heidi Chan, which elevates the already rich script (penned by Katherine Teed-Arthur) and is sure to draw goosebumps.

This is an unmissable work of talent and heart. Keep your eye on the cast and crew involved, and Katherine Teed-Arthur in particular, because if Joan/Jehanne is anything to go by, this won’t be the last time you’ll see these names attached to something exciting.

Maxie Dara
Maxie Dara
Maxie is a freelance writer, journalist and award-winning playwright based in Hamilton with a love of theatre and decidedly too many cats.

Related Articles

Stay Connected

470FansLike
972FollowersFollow
396FollowersFollow
- Advertisement -spot_img

Latest Articles