Baraboo weekly news. [volume] (Baraboo, Wis.) 1912-197?, 1925-03-12
BERNARD SHAW
PLAY REVIEW At
10Th CENTURY

st. Joan, a drama of the middle
ages written by Bernard Shaw and
read by Mrs. Clara t. Runge was
the real treat given to the Goth Cen
fury Club Thursday afternoon 1T
the home of Mrs. H. j., Bohn.f
Mr.. Shaws introduction to this
chronicle play Of six scenes, eX-
plains the situation at some length,
but in spite of his sharp criticism,
he has given to the public vivid
characterization of the unfortunate
maid of Orleans. Joan of Arc was
born in 1412-Her father was a tel
Ter of the soil, Joan herself was :,
practical help to her father. In
1431 when she was 10 years Of age
she was tried by the church, con
demned and burned at the stake for
heresy and witchcraft-jus follow
ing her triumph in battle for which
she was much praised and lauded.
Nevertheless there was not one
hand raised to save her-not even
by those who had followed her
leadership to yictoryTfear and
superstition more than devotion
perhaps, influenced her soldiers
for they firmly believed she had
supernatural power, in spite of
Joan's insistance again, and again,
that it was only common sense.
Young as she was, she thorough
ly understood the political and. mil-
itary situation in France and was
an able inspired leader.
Being religious she took no credit
to herself for succeeding where
others failed, she was fearless in
danger, fearless in speaking the
blunt truth to king and commoner
alike and for this also she was
feared and disliked
Mr.. Shaw sums it up by SAYING
GAS her actual condition was pure
upstart there were only two Opin-
ions abou her, One was that she
was miraculous, the other that she
was unbearable." Her religion
convinced her that she was working
out Gods commands through the
voices which she heard in the bells,
in nature and in her own heart,
which shows a we'll developed i'm
aginatiOn. She claimed nothing
for herself, but all for God-and
this in an age of bigotry and super
stition. In spite of the battles she
won through her great leadership
her. audacity offended, her dress Of
Tended, and her short hair offended.
Again she insisted it was only
common sense. She was afsOldieT
to fight and live as her sol
diers did she could dress in no 9th
err way and keep their respect. ea.
For the middle ages her qualit-
les of mind and character were uTi-
common enough to please her sew
eral hundred years ahead of her
time, for Joan of Arc was rehabil-
itated after a fashion in 1855, but
was left to the year of 1920-near-
ly 500 years after her martyrdom
to canonize her.
In his epilogue Mr.. Shaw brings
back the spirits of those who play
their part in this drama of the mid
die ages, and lets them speak,
Joan in wonder went at the great
change Of opinion toward her dur
ing I'll years elapsed King
Charlos the weak, Warwick the re-
lentless-the wicked soldier who
has release from purgatory three
months of the year for giving to
Joan at the stake, two sticks to
form a cross for her consolation at
her death. The representative OF
the church appeared, and the rep
resentation of the law, and last the
spirit of 1920 who made her a
Saint
"St. Joan" was performed for the
first time by the theatre guiled in
the Garrick theatre, New York City,
December %, 1928.