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| Jo Lampert .Photo: Joan Marcus |
Book, music, and lyrics by David Byrne
Directed by Alex Timbers
Choreography by Steven Hoggett
The Public Theater
Through April 30
By Lauren Yarger
What's It All About?
The world premiere of a rock musical about the life of Joan of Arc (Jo Lampert) directed by innovative Alex Timbers (The Robber Bridegroom; Rocky; Here Lies Love, Bloody, Bloody Andrew Jackson). The book, music, and lyrics by David Byrne explore the story of a young girl who spoke with angels and in the name of God, defied the times and authority to lead soldiers into battle to restore the nation of France. What does it cost to be free? For Joan, the ultimate price was her life when she was burned at the stake as a heretic.
What Are the Highlights?
It's an ambitious undertaking with choreography by Steven Hoggett and a two-story, creatively staired set designed by Christopher Barreca, expertly lighted by designed Justin Townsend (colored lighting helps tell the story and set the mood, and he even makes creative use of flashlights). Lambert, a Brooklyn-based performer and DJ, holds her own as rock star Joan in flashy, tight-fitting armor designed by Clint Ramos. Her backup singers, 10 hunky guys, play her soldiers and other various characters from her 15th-century life.
What Are the Lowlights?
On stage, Joan kind of looks like a guy. We are told that she forgoes her femininity to be able to take leadership of the men in battle, but this is a bit too much as some end up wondering whether Joan is a she or he and get distracted from the story. One theater-goer told me he had not purchased tickets because he thought Joan was being played by a man after seeing an ad for the show. We finally get a musical about an interesting musical and this shouldn't be the result! In short, Joan's story would have more impact if the heroine were portrayed in a more feminine manner.
The score is engaging and uses odd ending notes to haunting effect, but Byrne's lyrics don't capture the drama of the story or do much to develop the character of Joan. She goes through the motions of what we know about her historically (and projections by Darrel Maloney keep us updated on when and where the action takes place), but we don't really know much about Joan, except that she is a virgin, because there is more than one disturbing inspection of her body by the authorities to prove this.... A scene featuring Joan's mother, Isabelle (Mare Winningham had played the role and Jody Gelb has stepped in), is tacked on at the end to give us a bit more insight, but by then it's too late. Additional musical direction is needed to provide some harmonies and to keep everything from sounding the same throughout the one hour and 40 minutes.
Timbers decision to have musicians on stage amidst the action doesn't appear to have any purpose except to mix the old and modern. Other musicians remain dimly lighted on the second story of the stage while two guitarists, for example, are center stage with the actors. The modern rock score itself speaks for itself. We don;t need to see the musicians.
More Information:
The run of Joan of Arc: Into the Fire has been extended through April 30 at the Public Theater, 425 Lafayette St., NYC. Performances are Tuesday through Saturday at 8:30 pm; Wednesday at 1:30 pm; Saturday and Sunday, 2:30 pm (with some variations). Tickets are $90-$120: publictheater.org; 212-539-8605.
Additional casting:
Terence Archie (Warwick); James Brown III (Priest, Judge); Jonathan Burke (Priest, Judge); Rodrick Covington (Priest, Judge); Jody Gelb (Isabelle); Sean Allan Krill (Bishop Cauchon); Mike McGowan (La Tremouille); Adam Perry (Priest, Judge); John Schiappa (Priest, Judge); Kyle Selig (Dauphin, King Charles); Michael James Shaw (Baudricourt)
Additional credits:
Sound Design by Cody Spencer; Special Effects Design by Jeremy Chernick; Wigs, Hair and Make-up Design by Dave Bova and J. Jared Janas.
FAMILY-FRIENDLY FACTORS:
-- God's name taken in vain
-- I would recommend this for 14 and up
By Lauren Yarger
What's It All About?
The world premiere of a rock musical about the life of Joan of Arc (Jo Lampert) directed by innovative Alex Timbers (The Robber Bridegroom; Rocky; Here Lies Love, Bloody, Bloody Andrew Jackson). The book, music, and lyrics by David Byrne explore the story of a young girl who spoke with angels and in the name of God, defied the times and authority to lead soldiers into battle to restore the nation of France. What does it cost to be free? For Joan, the ultimate price was her life when she was burned at the stake as a heretic.
What Are the Highlights?
It's an ambitious undertaking with choreography by Steven Hoggett and a two-story, creatively staired set designed by Christopher Barreca, expertly lighted by designed Justin Townsend (colored lighting helps tell the story and set the mood, and he even makes creative use of flashlights). Lambert, a Brooklyn-based performer and DJ, holds her own as rock star Joan in flashy, tight-fitting armor designed by Clint Ramos. Her backup singers, 10 hunky guys, play her soldiers and other various characters from her 15th-century life.
What Are the Lowlights?
On stage, Joan kind of looks like a guy. We are told that she forgoes her femininity to be able to take leadership of the men in battle, but this is a bit too much as some end up wondering whether Joan is a she or he and get distracted from the story. One theater-goer told me he had not purchased tickets because he thought Joan was being played by a man after seeing an ad for the show. We finally get a musical about an interesting musical and this shouldn't be the result! In short, Joan's story would have more impact if the heroine were portrayed in a more feminine manner.
The score is engaging and uses odd ending notes to haunting effect, but Byrne's lyrics don't capture the drama of the story or do much to develop the character of Joan. She goes through the motions of what we know about her historically (and projections by Darrel Maloney keep us updated on when and where the action takes place), but we don't really know much about Joan, except that she is a virgin, because there is more than one disturbing inspection of her body by the authorities to prove this.... A scene featuring Joan's mother, Isabelle (Mare Winningham had played the role and Jody Gelb has stepped in), is tacked on at the end to give us a bit more insight, but by then it's too late. Additional musical direction is needed to provide some harmonies and to keep everything from sounding the same throughout the one hour and 40 minutes.
Timbers decision to have musicians on stage amidst the action doesn't appear to have any purpose except to mix the old and modern. Other musicians remain dimly lighted on the second story of the stage while two guitarists, for example, are center stage with the actors. The modern rock score itself speaks for itself. We don;t need to see the musicians.
More Information:
The run of Joan of Arc: Into the Fire has been extended through April 30 at the Public Theater, 425 Lafayette St., NYC. Performances are Tuesday through Saturday at 8:30 pm; Wednesday at 1:30 pm; Saturday and Sunday, 2:30 pm (with some variations). Tickets are $90-$120: publictheater.org; 212-539-8605.
Additional casting:
Terence Archie (Warwick); James Brown III (Priest, Judge); Jonathan Burke (Priest, Judge); Rodrick Covington (Priest, Judge); Jody Gelb (Isabelle); Sean Allan Krill (Bishop Cauchon); Mike McGowan (La Tremouille); Adam Perry (Priest, Judge); John Schiappa (Priest, Judge); Kyle Selig (Dauphin, King Charles); Michael James Shaw (Baudricourt)
Additional credits:
Sound Design by Cody Spencer; Special Effects Design by Jeremy Chernick; Wigs, Hair and Make-up Design by Dave Bova and J. Jared Janas.
FAMILY-FRIENDLY FACTORS:
-- God's name taken in vain
-- I would recommend this for 14 and up
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