Women in Turmoil: Six Plays by Mercedes de Acosta

Jehanne d’Arc

Jehanne d’Arc A Tragedy in Two Parts The Characters Jehanne d’Arc Jacques d’Arc, father of Jehanne Isabellette d’Arc, mother of Jehanne Durand-Laxart, uncle of Jehanne Pierre Pierre’s father Jean de Metz, a soldier of fortune Gaston, a soldier Captain Baudricourt, Seigneur of Vaucouleurs Curé of Vaucouleurs La Trémouille, favorite at the court Duke of Alençon The Dauphin, afterwards King Charles vii of France Maréchal de Boussac Captain de Rais Captain de la Hire Captain de Xaintrailles A Bourgondian soldier in disguise Mayor of Orléans Constable of France Jean de Luxembourg Duke of Bedford Earl of Warwick Archbishop Cauchon Earl of Stafford Archbishop of Rheims Soldiers, peasants, pages, ladies-in-waiting, courtiers, monks Part 1 Place: Outside the home of Jehanne d’ Arc, Domrémy, Lorraine Time: Spring in 1428 There is no scenery in this play. A glorious blue cyclorama is used throughout the entire play regardless of the change of properties. The stage is built 1 Library of Congress Copyright, March 3, 1922. Registration number 60141. architecturally upon planes or inclines, upstagebeingthe highest of all. This remains as a permanent structure during the entire play and is painted, together with the ®oor, the same color blue as the cyclorama. Different scenes are played upon different planes. An old, primitive well is upstage to left; a wooden bench to right upstage. When the curtain rises, Jehanne is alone on the stage. She is distinctly a peasant girl, rather large hands and feet, but with a strange beauty in her face and almost terrifying frankness and sincerity in her eyes and gesture. Her hair is brushed straight back off her face and worn in a small knot at her neck. Her eyes are blue and set wide apart; she is dressed in ordinary peasant costume. She is sitting on the bench with a wooden bowl on her lap and a basket ¤lled with carrots at her feet. She is cutting the carrots into the bowl. She works steadily but occasionally she stops and sits motionlessly as though something were troubling her, then she resumes her work again. She continues it for as long as it can be sustained. Then she pauses again; she seems puzzled—as though something were trying to force its way and break through her consciousness. She goes to the well and draws water in a wooden pail; she returns to the bench and washes the remaining carrots, which she has not yet cut. Finally she drops her work, rises, and comes forward. She places her hand to her breast and seems to breathe hard; her exalted expression shows that she is in contact with something supernatural, as the sound of tiny bells, tinkling softly as though from The set for Jehanne d’Arc, designed by Norman Bel Geddes. Courtesy of the estate of Norman Bel Geddes, Edith Lutyens Bel Geddes, Executrix, and the Rosenbach Museum and Library, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Jehanne d’Arc 2 another world, can be heard. A great shaft of brilliant white light pours down upon the ground beside her. Jehanne raises her head and listens; she seems conscious of voices addressing her. She advances into the light and drops upon her knees, extending her arms. After a short silence she speaks. Jehanne: Yes, yes, I hear—I’m listening. (With exaltation and joy) It’s you, Saint Catherine, it’s you! A command for me? (She humbly lowers her head as though receiving a command. She breathes with dif¤culty and speaks in a low voice.) I—save France? I can do nothing—not even carry a bucket or guard sheep. (She slowly raises her head; the sound of bells becomes louder as larger ones join in. There is a long silence. Jehanne rises; she lifts her arms as though receiving strength. From the timid clumsy peasant girl she visually becomes con¤dent. She seems to grow taller, carries herself straighter and remains quivering, awaiting the commands.) Jehanne: Yes, yes, Saint Marguerite, Saint Michael, I hear—I’m listening. You will give me the power. My body will be ¤lled with strength and my heart with courage—this mission would not be given me if the King of Kings were not near me to guide me on my way. Yes, I promise. I pledge myself to Him alone and to no other. I give my heart to Him and to no other...