Shaw's "Saint Joan"

Radio Record, Volume II, Issue 48, 14 June 1929, Page 8

Shaw's "Saint Joan"

First Act from IYA

ON Friday evening, June 21, Mr. J. F. Montague will produce Act 1 of Bernard’ Shaw’s play "Saint Joan." This play, it may here be remarked, was broadcast in London in April last by the British Broadcasting Company. A brief synopsis of the play will be of interest to listeners. ° It is the year 1429, when France is paralysed by the English forces, which occupy Paris and the country as far as the Loire. The troops are in despair, when there comes a girl from the dfstrict of Domremy. She says that St, Catherine and St. Margaret speak to her every day, and tell her that it is the will of God that she-Joan-shall raise the siege of Orleans and crown the Dauphin King in Rheims Cathedral. The officer to whom she goes for horse and armour is inclined to scoff, but others are stirred by her great sincerity, and persuade him to send her to the Dauphin, if only as a forlorn hope. News of an angel who has led a handful of men safely through the enemy’s lines to see the Dauphin is received with sarcasm at the Court. But the weak, inefficient Charles is flattered, and he insists upon seeing her. Possessed only with her great mission, Joan is quite unabashed by the splendour or the scornful laughter of th Court. *Y Left alone with her, Charles argues ' in vain that he wants neither to fight nor to be king, but to be left in peace. Joan is too masterful. In spite of himself, the Dauphin is inspired by her simple faith in his God-sent duty. Deciding to risk everything and follow her lead, he gives the command of the army to the Maid, and the knights swear to follow her uplifted sword in the name of God. Two months later Joan leads her first great battle at Orleans, where the French troops have been held up for weeks on the south bank of the Loire. By a miraculous change of wind after her prayer to St. Catherine, the French troops are enabled to cross the river, and, attacking the English forces in the rear, obtain a great victory.