Flag dancing, lanterns, and hand-painted banners of fire add magic to this production, which includes a chorus, musicians, harmonies, and a captivating story including a visit from an angel and a martyred saint.
Jalopy Theatre Presents: An Evening at Flushing Town Hall is on Saturday, Dec. 16, at 8 pm.
Directed by Ali Dineen — a Queens-raised songwriter, visual artist, musical director, and teacher — along with Brooklyn-based puppet theater troupe Boxcutter Collective, this show is part concert and part pageant-style blend of reenactment. The first 45 minutes consist of The Jalopy Chorus singing world music. Then, Dineen plays the piano while accompanied by string players and singers, including the chorus to present The Loneliness of Either, Or: A Requiem for Joan of Arc.
Ticket prices are on a sliding scale from $5 to $20. People pay what they can.
The Loneliness of Either is inspired by Leslie Feinberg’s book Transgender Warriors and based on Joan of Arc, a 19-year-old French woman who was burned at the stake for wearing men’s clothing during the Hundred Years’ War against England in 1431. After prosecuting her, the Catholic Church repented and declared her a martyr 20 years later, kicking off the process that made her a saint.
The Loneliness of Either examines lesser known nuances of Saint Joan’s story, delving into her relationship to gender, prophecy, and faith. Using giant puppets, pageantry, and original music for piano and choir, the show asks the question: Where do we find hope and faith in a world full of contradictions and false prophets?
Founded in 2014 by Eva Salina and Olivia Lynch and currently co-led by Dineen and Salina, The Jalopy Chorus is a community group that sings folk harmony traditions. It’s the official resident choir ensemble of The Jalopy Theater Company and School of Music in Carroll Gardens.
Flushing Town Hall is located at 137-35 Northern Blvd.
Images: Flushing Town Hall