Home / Arts and Entertainment / Mandipa Kabanda's Fiery Saint Joan Debut
Mandipa Kabanda's Fiery Saint Joan Debut
23 Feb
Summary
- Mandipa Kabanda's Saint Joan is a powerful, fast-paced portrayal.
- Director's unironic reimagining stays true to Shaw's themes.
- Modern film epilogue connects Joan's call to action today.
Mandipa Kabanda commands the stage in a dynamic portrayal of Saint Joan, capturing her swift transformation from obscurity to a commanding conqueror. Director Stewart Laing's staging, while shorter than the original, remains a sincere engagement with the play's core themes.
Laing's modern interpretation incorporates visual cues from Shaw's unproduced film adaptation. The use of ear pieces for male actors suggests a parallel to Joan's internal voices, questioning the validity of individual conviction.
The production honors Shaw's political leanings with a contemporary epilogue. A film by Adura Onashile juxtaposes historical footage with modern protest images, echoing Joan's final defiant cry, "I'd rather be remembered as the girl who set the fire."
