Theater Review: Mother of the Maid

              Jennifer Eve Thorn as Joan of Arc's mother

Everyone knows about Joan of Arc, the young girl who claimed that St. Catherine told her she was sent by God to expel France’s enemies and install Charles as its rightful king.

But imagine what her mother Isabelle said when Joan told her that. What would your mother say?

Playwright Jane Anderson’s fascinating imaginary tale “Mother of the Maid” lets us in on the reaction Mom Isabelle and dad Jacques may have had when she announced the news. You can see this terrific production through May 22 at Moxie Theatre.

Moxie’s Executive Artistic Director Jennifer Eve Thorn takes the stage for the first time in some years, narrating the story as Joan’s mother Isabelle. Isabelle is religious herself, but thinks 13-year-old Joan might just be, you know, imagining things. 

But Joan (Mikaela Rae Macias), the young daughter of French tenant farmers, seems totally convinced that she’s obeying “orders” from the saint. Much to her mom’s distress, she also seems to enjoy dressing in boys’ clothes and thinking about swords and battling those English invaders. How can a mom deal with that?

Thorn is brilliant as she tries to talk Joan out of it, pointing out minor issues like the fact that girls don’t lead armies. But Joan is not to be dissuaded (and priest Father Gilbert, played by Moxie veteran Mark C. Petrich, agrees), so mom goes to court herself, where other amusing and annoying things happen. She meets Nicole (Sarah Alida LeClair), a Lady of the Court, and gets a taste of what it’s like to be rich. Nicole even offers to teach Joan to read. 

Joan gets a little sword work in with her brother Pierre (Zack King). And Sergio Diaz-Delgado does fine double duty as a Guard and a Scribe.

Dad Jacques (Dave Rivas) has work to do on the farm and doesn’t interfere with Joan’s plans. Try as she will, Estelle can’t change Joan’s mind, and the story will play out as history has told us.

Bravo to Director Desireé Clarke for bringing this team to the highest performance level imaginable. It’s a sad story, but a wonderful retelling, told with heart, warmth and excellent acting and stagecraft all around. 

Bravo also to the creative and technical team: set designer Yi-Chien Lee, costume designer Courtney Ohnstad, lighting designer Annelise Raquel Salazar, sound designer Rachel MacDougall Le Vine, props designer Amy Chini, technical director Nathan Waits and scenic artist Julie Lorenz.

“Mother of the Maid” one of the best plays of the year. Don’t miss it.

The details

“Mother of the Maid” plays through May 22, 2022 at Moxie Theatre, 6663 El Cajon Blvd, San Diego.

Shows Thursday at 7:30 p.m.; Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m., Sunday at 2 p.m. There will be an ASL performance May 15 at 2 p.m.

Tickets: (858)598-7620