‘Saint Joan’ at Cineplex on Sunday
HOW WOULD Joan of Arc fit into a post-Brexit society? Josie Rourke’s production of Saint Joan, explores that question, on Sunday, 11:30 a.m., at Palace Cineplex.
Josie Rourke (Les Liaisons Dangereuses, The Vote, Coriolanus) directs award-winning actress, Gemma Arterton, as Joan of Arc in this electrifying masterpiece.
Audiences may remember Arterton for her role in films such as, Prince of Persia and as a Bond Girl in Quantum of Solace.
However, it may be her outspoken nature off-screen, on issues such as body image and pay disparity, that may serve her well in her role as Saint Joan.
After receiving strong reviews for her role as Nell Gywnn, Arterton now takes the stage as Saint Joan. ACCLAIMED ACTRESS
In so doing. she joins the company of acclaimed actresses such as Sybil Thorndike. Not to be outdone, she has received strong reviews for her portrayal of Joan with The Telegraph describing Aterton’s performance as impressive, poignant and riveting. Andrez Lukowski says of Arterton’s performance, “[she] turns in the best stage performance I’ve seen her give.”
On playing the part, Arterton says she was “taken aback” to be offered the lead role, describing it as a “big reach.” She offered, “I can play strong characters, but there is something about Joan — she’s very innocent and quite naïve and I usually play quite knowing people.”
(Standard UK) Additionally, Joan’s nationalist leanings troubled her as she commented, “When I first read it, I didn’t know if I could play a woman who was essentially a nationalist; the line “it is not his will that they should come into our country and try to speak our language” is everything I stand against.” (Donmar Warehouse). However, by all accounts, Arterton manages to capture the complexities of the character in a modern-day setting.