Magdaléna Škerenčák
There are few things that would suit the space of Apropo Theatre better than a show about religion, endless hunger for knowledge and equality. The High Priestess – Johanna is all of those things and more. Beatrice Schiaffino brings her originally Italian show to Prague to be performed in English for the very first time.
Loud darkness, soft dim light of a lantern, thoughtful music and later on highly inventive costume design – all these elements are often omitted in Fringe shows that come from theatre traditions that rely almost entirely on spoken word, rather than creating atmosphere. Schiaffino is tying all these elements neatly together to create a believable and immersive experience for the audience. Everything about this show smells of continental Europe theatre tradition, which is very refreshing in a festival with such heavy representation of UK shows.
In the dim light of the lantern, we immediately fall in love with Schiaffino. She’s a charismatic performer, powerful in her delivery and believable in heightened emotional states – however, the rhythm of the piece that might work well in Italian lacks nuance in English and the first half of the piece feels flat. What helps us to get back on track with the tension of the piece is the continuous revealing of the multi-layered stunning costume that aids us to understand the character is literally becoming Johanna in front of our eyes. This is also a clever and very interesting structural and dramaturgical device – simple, yet effective – perfect for the Fringe circuit.
The narrative of the piece is chronological, straight forward and mostly in storytelling mode. While there are some historical parallels being drawn about the position of women in society in the 9th century and now, particularly at the beginning of the show, it ends up feeling more like a biographical piece about a real historical figure – the only female pope in Catholic history – than an appeal to feminism and call for equality in our day and age. The show’s structure carries potential to open themes of being a heroine versus being a mother and deepen the commentary of gender roles.
This show is a must-see for anyone who is looking for neat design, powerful story and performance that stays with you for a long time. Schiaffino aspires to be an award winning Fringe performer with this performance, giving voice to a character that has been long forgotten by history, only to be remembered as one of the Tarot cards. Passionate, loud and dramatic in the best ways.
All hail the high priestess!
Recommended Drink: A full-bodied Barolo served in a goblet.
You can catch The High Priestess – Johanna on May 29th & 30th at Museum of Alchemists – Divadlo Apropo from 17:00 & 20:30 (50mins). Tickets are available through the Prague Fringe Online Box Office.
Salvador Kent
Mike Dorey
