THEATER REVIEW : ‘Joan of Arc’ Filled With Surprises as Musical : Composer David Potter’s score reflects rich expanse of styles from Gregorian chant to cadences of ‘Les Miserables.’

The short life of Joan of Arc--the visionary shepherdess who, at the age of 19 liberated 15th-Century France from an occupying English army, was steeped in the kind of unusual circumstances and exceptional personal accomplishments that cry out for deep, probing historical analysis.

After all, the girl broke every conceivable social, religious and military rule of her time.

Yet in bringing “Joan of Arc” to the stage as an original musical, one of the creators’ more surprising choices was to tell her story with little reliance on complex psychological or sociological interpretation. Instead, the piece is sketched in the broad strokes of a passion play, a meditation on faith and heroism performed entirely in song.

Another surprise is the use of the Trinity Episcopal Church as a venue. Despite the atmospheric appropriateness--the Gothic stone walls, stained glass, windows and high ceiling--the church’s narrow altar space and restricted sight lines weren’t designed with staging plays in mind.

The biggest surprise is that it all works.

The main reason for this success is simple to identify, though complicated to experience--namely, composer David Potter’s score, which reflects the influence of a rich expanse of musical styles from the austere meditation of Gregorian chant to the majestic, fervent cadences of “Les Miserables.”

Far from derivative, however, the musical integrity in Potter’s songs combines fresh vision with piercing emotional conviction.

Songs of heartfelt longing like “Send, Oh God,” in which the uncrowned King of France, Charles (Gregory Franklin), calls out for divine reassurance, to be answered in a sweet duet by Joan (Pamela Winslow).

Songs of stirring loyalty, like “Out There,” in which Joan’s trusted aide Jean D’Aulon (Clark Sterling) vows to defend her to the death.

But golden-throated Winslow could make a phone book ring like Sondheim, and her focused performance as Joan is nothing short of masterful. Both the male leads are strong singers as well.

Director John Blondell has admirably met the formidable challenge of evoking a bona fide theatrical experience from the constricted stage space.

Still, one can’t help reflecting on the theological irony of performing this tribute to a woman “sent by God to truly save us from the English knave” in an Episcopal church, with its Anglican roots. It’s nice to know that some grudges only need a few centuries to cool off.

Details

* WHAT: “Joan of Arc”

* WHEN: Through March 6, Thursdays through Sundays at 8 p.m.

* WHERE: Trinity Episcopal Church, 1500 Santa Barbara St., Santa Barbara.

* COST: $16.

* FYI: For reservations or further information, call 963-4408.