Me & Joan (of Arc)

By Karen Sunde

ME & JOAN (formerly titled La Pucelle) was conceived and directed by Ken Marini at Cheltenham Center for the Arts. In an interview with the Philadelphia Inquirer, he said: “Joan is a spiritual woman, but she has lost her physical self, and Lili is a very physical woman who has lost her spiritual self. They are like a single woman who has been divided, and it’s time to reunite the two selves...”

“Joan projects magnificent power and grace, while Lili embodies contemporary sexual energy and charm. .. Despite the fact (the play) reaffirms both Lili's faith and ours, the locals went ballistic and vowed to close it. ...Sunde's take ...nevertheless proves sympathetic toward St Joan and her spirituality” Tish Dace, PLAYS INTERNATIONAL

“Crossing the paths of two outcast young women – one of great spirituality but no worldly experience, the other of abundant sexuality, but no faith ... having them reach out across the centuries, bringing the assumptions of two vastly different times and cultures to their search ... (is) intriguing. ... Her (Lili’s) wry, cut-to-the-chase curiosity is meant to be funny, and it is. But what particularly impressed me was the sweet, unaffected nature of the exchange ... in which we hear the authentic, unedited voices of these two interesting women as they seek to share a common search for integrity and purpose across a gaping cultural divide.” Clifford A. Ridley, THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER

“A holy backfire has occurred at Cheltenham Township on the fringe of Philadelphia, where a group of Roman Catholics freaked at a preview of La Pucelle, (ME & JOAN) ...many more Catholics who never saw the show jumped on the pageant bandwagon...: some 200 zealots ... descended on the township’s commissioners’ meeting and persuaded the commission to “request” that the center close the show. ...(the Center) refused to shut the show, although the feckless faithful protested outside its scheduled closing. The theater’s own congregation grew by 30% on the controversy. And best of all, the commissioners finally did see the show... ‘and they loved it! The theater came out way ahead’”... Porter Anderson, VILLAGE VOICE, (New York)

• Language: English
• Publisher: Karen Sunde
• Release date: Jan 9, 2012
• ISBN: 9781465843043

Karen Sunde

An actor turned writer, Karen performed many leading roles Off-Broadway, and was Associate Director of CSC Repertory. Her plays have been performed Off-Broadway, in regional theatres, on a USA tour, and in eleven countries and seven languages. Sunde’s first screenplay, UNDERCOVER PATRIOT was a finalist at Sundance. She wrote PARALLEL LOVES for Terra Bella Entertainment, Los Angeles; BOULE DE SUIF (adapt Maupassant) for Dace Direction, London; DREAM HOUSE for Passport Films, NYC; THE FASTEST WOMAN ALIVE for Howard S Shulman Productions, NYC; THE SECRET SHIP; FINAL QUEST: THE MOUNTAIN OF THE GODS; TRIPPING TAMMY; CHICKS GOTTA SWIM; LOVE HITS EARTH (& Other Disasters); NEXT!; adaptations of HOW HIS BRIDE CAME TO ABRAHAM, screenplay an "Official Selection" at Oaxaca FilmFest, www.AbrahamFilm.org, and IN A KINGDOM BY THE SEA, won the Gold Prize at Hollywood Screenplay Contest. Published plays: DARK LADY, produced Abbey Theatre, Ireland, Aalborg State Theatre, Denmark, optioned for film; BALLOON, won three VILLAGER awards Off-Broadway, nominated Best Play by Outer Critics Circle, aired Radio France; HAITI: A DREAM in FACING FORWARD, produced Seven Stages, Atlanta, aired WNYC, WHYY, NPR; TO MOSCOW, premiered Ankara National Theatre, Turkey, Chain Lightning, New York; OH WILD WEST WIND in ROWING TO AMERICA, produced Playwrights Theatre of New Jersey (PTNJ). PLAYS BY KAREN SUNDE includes TRUTH TAKES A HOLIDAY, read La MaMa, New York City (NYC); IN A KINGDOM BY THE SEA produced PTNJ, HOW HIS BRIDE CAME TO ABRAHAM, produced PTNJ, Praxis Theatre Project, NYC, premiered at The Unicorn, Kansas City. ANTON, HIMSELF for Actors Theatre of Louisville, also played The Moscow Art Theatre, the Yalta Festival in Russia, Peoples Light and Theatre, NYU in New York. THE FASTEST WOMAN ALIVE produced Luna Stage, NJ, Praxis, NYC, Edinburgh Festival (2010); KABUKI OTHELLO, produced People's Light and Theatre Company and Annenberg Center, Philadelphia; Wisdom Bridge, Chicago; KABUKI LADY MACBETH produced Chicago Shakespeare Theater, cited for five JEFF Awards, including "Best New Work," Best Production," "Best Direction:" IN A KINGDOM BY THE SEA. Scenes from TO MOSCOW; ANTON, HIMSELF; MASHA, TOO; and ABRAHAM appear in SCENES & MONOLOGS FROM THE BEST NEW PLAYS. Among 23 plays--for Actors Theatre of Louisville; People's Light and Theatre; The Acting Company, NYC, Sunde wrote KABUKI MACBETH, KABUKI KING RICHARD and ACHILLES, which toured Hungary, Cyprus, and Japan. She co-wrote musical QUASIMODO,(a musical) premiered Byrdcliffe Festival, Woodstock, NY, produced Lahti City Theatre, Finland. For Cheltenham Center, Philadelphia, she wrote LA PUCELLE (ME & JOAN) and DADDY'S GONE A-HUNTING (TRACKING BLOOD WHITE). In NYC: for Chain Lightning, WHEN REAL LIFE BEGINS, for The Working Theatre, 2020 SEXCARE in FREE MARKET; for Tisch School, NYU, Table and Chair Handmade Theatre, PLEASE GOD, NO WEDDING OR SHOOTING AT THE END! Opera THE SPA with composer Michael Dilthey. also at https://www.dramaticpublishing.com/authors/profile/view/url/karen-sunde Sunde’s won a McKnight Fellowship, an NDEA Fellowship, the Aide de la Creation award in France, the Bob Hope Award, Gold Prize in Hollywood Screenplay Contest, lives in New York City, served on the theatre panel of New Jersey Council on the Arts, and the new plays panel of the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, was faculty at New Hampshire Institute of Art's Writing for Stage & Screen MFA program, La MaMa ETC (New York)'s nominee for the Laura Pels/​PEN award, consultant for musical DAMASCUS SQUARE.

Book preview

ME & JOAN (of Arc)

A play about love, power, identity, sexuality, and faith.

What the critics say

Intriguing Funny …what particularly impressed me was the sweet, unaffected nature of the exchange…in which we hear the authentic…voices of these two interesting women as they seek to share a common search for integrity and purpose across a gaping cultural divide." Clifford A. Ridley, THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER

Joan projects magnificent power and grace, while Lili embodies contemporary sexual energy and charm. ... reaffirms both Lili's faith and ours…opposed to the official Catholic stances on women's issues, nevertheless proves sympathetic toward St Joan and her spirituality. Tish Dace, PLAYS INTERNATIONAL

A suicidal stand-up comic fantasizes her way into a meeting with Joan of Arc. Visual images linked by the logic of dreams, exploring sexuality, guilt, women’s assertiveness, and the power of patriarchy and the church. And…at least one character is burned at the stake. Critic’s Pick PHILADELPHIA CITY PAPER

…a very authentic interpretation of St. Joan of Arc…rendering more clearly [than Shaw’s or Anouilh’s plays] her religious faith…relating Joan’s existence to modern feminism. … It’s aim…to expose the confused and sinful nature of human beings as they grope toward redemption and self-acceptance. …(its) sense of the times and women’s spiritual leadership role is very accurate. Reverend John M Hynes, Associate Pastor, St. Catherine of Siena, Wilmington, Delaware.

Pill-popping Lili is deliberately overdosing in a suicide attempt. She dashes to a church and insists that a young priest hear her confession and grant absolution. Then she collapses in his arms. He can't get rid of her fast enough. In the hospital, Lili begins a dream that turns into a nightmare: time-traveling back to the 15th century and playing a kind of loyal sidekick to Joan of Arc in her God-driven mission to save France. Nels Nelson – DAILY NEWS, Philadelphia

TAGS: play, theatrical, pageant, Joan of Arc, stand-up comic, patriarchy, priest, fathers of the church, France, Middle Ages,recant, trial, suicide, hearing voices, overdose, burning at the stake, ensemble play, Cheltenham Center, La Pucelle, Joan of Arc, plays by women, monologues for women, Archangel Michael, Saint Catherine, Saint Margaret

ME & JOAN (of Arc)

(former title: La Pucelle)

by

Karen Sunde

Originally conceived and directed by Ken Marini

at Cheltenham Center for the Arts, Philadelphia

Smashwords Edition

Copyright Karen Sunde

For all rights to perform this play, apply to:

130 Barrow #412

New York 10014

Tel/Fax [phone]

[e-mail]

www.karensunde.com

CONTENTS

What The Critics Say

ACT ONE

ACT TWO

Other Plays and Screenplays by Karen Sunde

PRODUCTION

Set:

Open, medieval-modern; with moveable candelabra and ladders; as though a circus is taking shelter in a bombed out cathedral.

Characters:

LILI, a comedian

TOMAS, a young priest

JOAN, of Arc

Company:

Three or more – to portray Soldiers: ANTOINE, MAX, PIERRE; Priests: FELIPE, FATHER SUPERIOR, FATHER INFERIOR; and Crowd. (females may be cast in male roles)

ME & JOAN (of Arc)

Opening procession:

Anything goes – like the deepest Mystery Play with Monty Python in the wings. Gregorian chants and battle drum bring in company previewing Joan’s world in parade, dance or mime (may include sirens) – before Lili shatters it.

At the end, Joan's statue is in place, Tomas is ready to give confession, and a pile of smoldering ashes is swept with a broom. Smoke from incense and candles waft, as Lili skips her way through it all to warm up the audience.

Lili's good at what she does, loves the audience, but beneath her kidding patter, we feel her life – from bright innocent hope to raw disaster. Her attire is macho-erotica leather and lace, like an MTV androgyne. She looks lost, and is carrying a full glass of water.

LILI:

Hiya! Boy oh boy oh boy, what a good-looking load of art-lovers. Ummumm ummm. Glad y'all got here! Ooh, you're looking at me funny. Please! Don't be scared. I promised I wouldn't frighten the subscribers. Just picture it: your daughter comes home dressed like this – what advice do you give her?

I told the shop boy, Put me in something that'll attract men. And…dadah! (She strikes a provocative pose) It does work. Trust me. Course, the men I'm attracting...aren't exactly what I had in mind...

Not that they care down at Pigeye's Lounge, where I provide a...social service. No, it's not what you think. What I am is...a reality check – for these guys sautéing their livers in rot-gut...who think they're wasted till they get a load of me. (Expansive, smiling) They relax when they witness my level of confusion.

See, all I wanted outta life...was to be President. Mama, can I grow up to be President? I wanted to save the mother-loving country! I was full of ideas. I could lead the crowd. First one out on the playing field, that's me! (Beat) They wouldn't even let me on the debate team.

(To punctuate debate team, she jerks a bottle of pills from her jacket pocket, and proceeds, during the next lines, to open it and extract a pill)

I was smarter than any of them, bright-eyed, pure voiced – absolutely dedicated to saving