Joan of Arc, a young girl who was touched by God and led her people to victory, stands trial and must answer for her actions. “The Lark” follows that trial, recalling how Joan came to be standing in front of those who would accuse her.

~Review and Photos by Dana Nöllsch~

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The Story of “The Lark“

The time is the early 1400s in France, where war rages. Joan, a young girl who hears messages from God and is directed to lead the armies of France in the war that rages just outside of her home. Joan listens to the divine words and follows the directions, dressing as a boy and summoning up her courage to do the things she knows she must.

This is how she came to stand trial for her actions, actions that saved France from being conquered. She stands in front of the men who feared her but felt compelled to make Joan a martyr forever remembered and celebrated.

The Lark follows the trial of Joan of Arc, recounting the various situations that brought her to this point, the point of being a national hero and perhaps even a martyr for her country.

Fascinating, captivating, and deeply emotional, The Lark was written by Jean Anouilh in the 1950s in France and adapted by Lillian Hellman for the American audience.

If you are a fan of theatre, and I presume you are, this is a must-see play. The Lark is extremely well written and shines as a period piece easily understood, but also emotionally impactful.

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Here are some Photos to give you a taste of “The Lark.”

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What about the Performances?

The cast is simply outstanding, embracing the characters that they play and the historical timeline.

There are many standout performances in The Lark; in fact, all the performances are powerful.

I would be remiss if I did not mention Riley McKinney, who plays Joan. We have seen Riley in many different roles, and her talent is very obvious, but playing the role of Joan of Arc seems to be written specifically for her. Her acting ability, combined with her passion for the role, showed as the audience on preview night was left speechless by her performance.

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The Set

This is one of the best sets I have seen at Bruka for some time. Lewis Zaumeyer has certainly outdone himself with the quality of the set for The Lark. Again, as with the costuming, the set does exactly what it’s supposed to do without overpowering the story, but adding to the palatable feel, taking the audience back in time to what we can imagine the 1400s were.

There is a finale that brings an aspect to the set that does not show in the photos, but truly must be seen to be appreciated.

Adding to the period feel are the costumes created by Deborah Morrison. They add an ambiance and are perfect for the time period.

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The Bottom Line

Taking all of this into consideration, I’m sure you can imagine what I am about to say: The Lark is one of the plays that you certainly do not want to miss. The cast and crew have put so much into bringing this production to the stage, opening their hearts and souls up for the audience in ways that certainly must be seen to appreciate.

It is my sincere hope that each performance is a sellout, not only for the players but also for the audiences who will have the honor of seeing such a wonderful production.

And that’s the bottom line.

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The Lark

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