The Review – Keeping up with the Virgin of Orleans
The reality show is based on the depiction of the “real” life of “real” people. It is based on the conflicts caused by the striking character differences of the performers, which causes the inability to tear away from the observed. The production Saint Joan directed by Monika Strzepkova and performed by AST Kraków students works on a similar basis. The authors decided to fragment the main heroine among five actresses, which succeeded in creating several different variants of the Virgin of Orleans.
The most distinctive of them is her first form (Melania Kowalczyk). Joan’s ability to hear God’s voice sounds like a mental illness. She constantly writhes in convulsions and repeats that she has to go to war mainly because of her Lord. For this reason, the depiction rather evokes a certain form of religious fanaticism. Another important form of Joan is played by Kinga Bobkowska. Due to a series of fighting positions she performs to the music, she reminisces of a warrior since her very arrival on stage. However, the illusion of God’s faithful supporter disappears the moment she begins to indulge in her own sexual instincts.
The fragmentation of the main figure’s character seems to be an effective decision corresponding to the atmosphere of a reality show. All the characters are placed in different corners of one room and are plotting how to get rid of Joan. The set also consists of a constantly present projection, adding dynamism to the production. At the beginning, there are several short videos, which include Donald Trump, a burning forest, and large-scale poultry farming.
The scenes shown refer to topics that society deals with on a daily basis. However, none of those present pays attention to them. They run in the background like a television in the home, where the programme serves as a mere undertone of ordinary life. Each of the characters lives in a room outside of reality. The room is their own world and they do not dwell on what is happening “outside”. Just as they don’t notice the problems that Joan would help them solve if they didn’t want to burn her.
Zdeňka Horváthová (DAMU)