Mother of the Maid

See it if you're a fan of Close or Joan Arc. GC emotes well, but inconsistent script. Strong acting fr ensemble. Accessible story of precocious child.

Don't see it if you want a focused, revelatory script. No point to retelling: nothing new! Shaw's SJ is much more philos/intellectual. Tone varies wildly.

Also I was disappointed in MOTM. The script used colloquial lang in medieval setting ("he's easy on the eyes") Occasionally threw in "ain't" for Close's speech (w jarring inconsistency). Close doesn't know "charismatic" but does know "heresy"? Lots of inaccurate "historical" details.

I think the playwright undermines Joan's conviction that she was chosen by God and had visitations by saints. Close gives final speech about Nature and goodness filling Joan. But Joan refused to renounce, even to save her life.

The play got boring with the one-note focus of Joan's celebrity and how her parents viewed her. It was often played for laughs (as the script required) but then the end is awkward shift to melodrama.

The scenes with the lady of the court were awful. She seemed like a social climber, so why is she later loyal?

This script was subpar, but the production was good and I (mostly) was engaged.... Read more Read less

See it if I enjoyed the mother’s perspective, w/Joan as a rebellious, cocky, possibly transgender, teenager. Witty dialog. Fun supporting characters

Don't see it if You don’t like historical fiction with some anachronisms. GC is great but the script is too sentimental when she is on stage by herself.

See it if u want to see Glenn Close transcend in a new play that humanizes the Joan d'Arc story and vacillates clumsily from sitcom to highbrow drama.

Don't see it if you expect any dramatic arc or hope for any new perspectives on the familiar Joan story or on mother-daughter relationships.

Also The play's not the thing. This is a platform for Close to shine... and shine she does. She is truly compelling to watch.... Read more Read less

See it if 4 Glenn Close's affecting performance as mother of Joan of Arc, humanizes J by showing her actions/cruel end from her parents' perspective

Don't see it if has sitcom vibe; robs Joan of some of her mystery/gravitas, showing her as modern pain in the a** rebellious teen

Also I. Something unique happened at the performance I attended: after hearing the sounds of construction overhead at the Public, Ms. Close STOPPED THE PERFORMANCE until the sounds ceased, during which time she conversed w & took questions from the audience. Here she used her diva powers to literally stop the show! Once show resumed, she remained the center of attention. That is why she's a star. II. Joan of Arc is a figure of endless fascination to playwrights. Recently, we saw an insightful production about Joan by Shaw starring Condola Rashad that showed her as a pawn caught between political forces. Before that a less than cogent musical at the Public in which Joan was a kind of mystical rock star. This production, I think, was most effective in showing Joan as a headstrong but vulnerable teenage girl as viewed thru the eyes of her parents. What we're looking for is a theatrical production that pulls all these threads together. Tony Kushner: do you have some free time?... Read more Read less

See it if Jean d'Arc's mum speaks out on parenting, class, and victimhood. Pared-down Close is unvarnished in odd, small play. Tender reunion in cell.

Don't see it if Bland play and wardrobe with nothing to say about martyrdom. Modern talk. But, still...it's Glenn Close.

See it if you want to see a fine performance by Glenn Close. Also, one of the best set designs to grace the stage of the Anspacher by John Lee Beatty.

Don't see it if you like plays to be well written and not appear to be like an episode from a TV series.

Also Disappointing all around. The supporting cast surrounding Ms. Close is second rate, thus giving her a chance to shine. The director comes from the world of TV, and it shows in this production. Glenn Close needs an extraordinary vehicle to show off her talents. "Mother of the Maid" isn't it. The anachronisms (e.g., "wonky) drove me crazy as did Close speaking about her character in the third person. It's time for a moratorium on the Saint Joan saga. The disastrous musical that the Public produced a couple of seasons ago plus MTC's flavorless revival of last season. Let Joan rest for a while...... Read more Read less

See it if Glen Close brilliant portrayal of a mother in anguish. Van Patton great. Modern language and family interaction draws the audience in.

Don't see it if You don’t have the patience to see a play where you already know what is going to happen. A very human backstory doesn’t interest you.

See it if you want to see Glenn Close deliver an impressive and captivating performance or want to see Joan of Arc told from a different perspective.

Don't see it if you've already seen countless Joan of Arc adaptions and are bored of it. Although this one shifts the perspective to her mother.

See it if you're interested in a different perspective on a well known story.

Don't see it if you object to anachronistic accents and attitudes.

See it if You want to see Glenn Close up close and personal. The "adults" I'm this play we're good well rounded characters. The idea was interesting.

Don't see it if You don't care about the Joan of Arc story and don't want to see Glenn Close spend all her time dealing with an obnoxious pair of children.

See it if you want to see a great actress at the top of her game.Close is perfection.Story is fascinating & compelling.It never lost my interest.

Don't see it if you want something frothy.This makes you look at Joan D'Arc from a different angle.Acting is uniformly very good with Close being a knockout

See it if A tour de force performance by Glenn Close. Thoroughly engaged me.

Don't see it if The play itself was a bit weak, and filled with anachronisms. I often thought we were in Ireland, not France.

See it if you like vehicles for great acting. Cast is superb and the story is refreshingly modern despite being about Joan of Arc.

Don't see it if you don't like period pieces.

See it if you want to see a great actress putting over a fairly written play. Glenn Close and cast shine. Second act is a winner

Don't see it if you have a low tolerance for softball first acts.

See it if A signature role for the brilliant Glenn Close. The family of Joan is explored with a contemporary twist.A must see!

Don't see it if Do not see if you do not like historical dramas.

See it if humanizing Joan of Arc story from the viewpoint of her mother; story of 2 very strong women; story of timeless mother-daughter relations;

Don't see it if you want 15th century story told in contemporary language (sometimes annoying); narration at the end to fill in life after the death of Joan

Also Great Glenn Close performance!
Joan's mother was in fact very strong. She worked diligently to get her daughter's name restored.... Read more Read less

See it if You like Joan of Arc. You want to see Glenn Close no matter what.

Don't see it if You want set design and direction to support a script and tell a well-paced, well-organized story.

See it if You want to see a brilliant Glenn Close and Grace van Patten as mother and daughter in an intimate theater setting.

Don't see it if You are uncomfortable with historical drama written in modern language. Although Close was mesmerizing the play was slow for me.

See it if great acting of a different look at the joan of arc story - how it effects the family.

Don't see it if not into historical drama, then skip this.

See it if You may be interested in seeing a "Joan of Arc" that focuses on the perspective of the parents. Glenn Close and the cast are terrific.

Don't see it if You aren't interested in the subject matter or prefer lighter,comedic fare.

See it if You love Glenn Close, appreciate this perspective on the story, or will enjoy a visually strong production.

Don't see it if You don’t like period pieces or intimate Public productions.

Also Extra points for Glenn Close who halted the show near the beginning due to set building noise from another floor, then spent 20 casual and charming minutes interacting with the audience while the noise was stopped. We all may have had a hard time getting back into it, but through numerous beautiful moments, I did. I thought the anachronistic language was unnecessary but forgivable given the sum total.... Read more Read less

See it if Mainly there to watch Glenn Close dramatically mother Joan of Arc. She's Joan's #1 advocate before, during, and long after Joan's fame.

Don't see it if Thin plot, slow, not much happens. Dramatically acted, but little context leading up to it. Some strange self narration in the third person.

Also Ticket from online rush on TodayTix for $27.50.

See it if You want to see a masterful performance by Glenn Close. You are fascinates my the Joan of Arc story -- this is whole new angle.

Don't see it if I can't imagine not wanting to see this!

See it if For the premise if you can deal with an long, uneven familyish drama with some interesting scenes about religious leaders and class dynamics

Don't see it if You're just going for Glenn Close. You were hoping for an Arc tale sans Joan — she's everywhere, and the play is less interesting for it.

Also I wish the playwright had abandoned Joan in the beginning of the play and focused wholly on her absence and its effect on Isabel. The entire cast is good, including Close, but no one is particularly outstanding. There's some fun stuff in this play, but it feels like it needs more edits.... Read more Read less

See it if Glenn Close is riveting. Great staging. A new angle on an old story.

Don't see it if Looking for the conventional Joan story.