“With few props – a horse’s head, a childlike wooden sword, sunglasses, a chainmail hood – Rainer develops a dramaturgy that easily sustains the entire 75 minutes. ‘Why not (again) Joan of Arc? The play at Dschungel Wien surprisingly serves as a cipher for today’s girls.
Following the motto that feminist exploration of history doesn’t always have to focus on Hildegard von Bingen and her alternative esoteric trail, Cornelia Rainer (text/direction) has written a play of the same name. The piece succeeds in highlighting the current relevance of Joan in her historical actions (expelling the English from France), as well as her strangely fascinating strength of conviction and faith.
Presented four times to the audience is this simple girl: Sophie Aujesky, Sophie Behnke, Anna Lisa Grebe, and Louise Knof, identically dressed, portray the facets of this peasant girl: wild, hesitant, doubting, and ultimately very clear. Joan, who could also be named Andrea, Jessica, or Katrin, is very present in terms of today’s multimedia age, where the question of ‘self’, the courage to own identity, and belief in a cause remain consistently important. Even without ‘expelling the English.’ With minimal props – a horse’s head, a childlike wooden sword, sunglasses, a chainmail hood – Rainer creates a dramaturgy that effortlessly lasts the entire 75 minutes. ‘Johanna’ is a surprisingly apt symbol for today’s girls. Suitable for ages eleven and up.”