Each season, The Shaw Festival revives one of George Bernard Shaw’s plays. In 2017, Saint Joan, Shaw’s blistering critique of war and religion, stars Sara Topham as Joan. Joan leads the underdog French armies to victory over the invading British forces. Despite saving the country, Joan is betrayed by both the religious bureaucracy and Charles VII, who wouldn’t be King without Joan’s bravery.
I first read Saint Joan in the late 1960s while I was a student at Marquette University. I went to dozens of plays on and off campus during those years and was drawn to Shaw’s plays. I listened to an audio version of Saint Joan with Siobhan McKenna as Joan. Electrifying! This Shaw Festival version was compelling and thought-provoking. Do you have a favorite George Bernard Shaw play? GRADE: B+
Heartbreak House
Pygmalion
The Devil’s Disciple
We’ve seen SAINT JOAN a couple of times, once with Lynn Redgrave.
Jeff, excellent choices!
I haven’t read it, or seen it, but am aware of its existence through Shaw collections. The only one of his plays I’ve seen is Pygmalion.
Rick, I’ve seen almost all the plays George Bernard Shaw wrote. Having the Shaw Festival next door makes his work available each year!
I saw a couple of the movies! The silent one was pretty interesting and remarkable staged!
Bob, I’ve seen a few movies based on Shaw plays. MY FAIR LADY certainly is the best known. I wore out the grooves of the MY FAIR LADY soundtrack when I was a kid!
I’ve always thought Shaw had an abundance of talent but a deficit of genius. Whatever that means, it still puts him one up on me.
Dan, Shaw is a quirky writer. It’s hit or miss with his plays.