Review: 'The Fairest Flame' by Olympia Little Theatre

Originally published on The JOLT News on January 27, 2026

Women in pants — a controversy almost as old as time. If ever a fuss existed, it would be the gripe wailed from sexist societies over the mere idea of women wearing pants.

If you took the idea literally, it feels weird that people would care so much about the cut of fabric on a woman’s body. Then, you remember the standard of “men wearing the pants” in the family, and it all makes sense.  

Pants were symbols of power statuses, and the idea of a woman having as much power as a man was (and to some degree can still be considered) dangerous.  My modern mind thinks about women like Katherine Hepburn, who defied old Hollywood with pants on, but I would never have thought of any other historical figure taking this charge until Saturday, Jan. 24, when I saw Olympia Little Theatre’s (OLT), “The Fairest Flame” about patron saint, Joan of Arc. 

 'The Fairest Flame' 

How can I choose the fairest flame among a talented cast and crew, and the results of their efforts? Impossible! Each deserve applause for their own reasons, but these were the actors who stood out to me the most.  

Throughout the show, I could not decide if the star was meant to be Jennette de Bar, Jeanne de Bethune or Joan the Maid (aka Joan of Arc)? My inability to decide proves just how powerful the performances were from these three actresses. Each one represents a sort of different generation in the play, but none outshown the other, but together created a light on timeless social dynamics (more on that later). 

Clementine Matthews proved themself to be a shining star in their depiction of Jenette de Bar, navigating the character’s emotional shifts so well, and delivering her one liner quips so naturally. Chatting with numerous artists in the area, I often hear about the need for the next generation of actors to rise up and join the artistic troupes. 

I have seen young artists rise up in companies designed for them, but rarely in companies that primarily hire adults. Matthews is paving the way for younger generations to join the main stage. Mother Heather Matthews (previously featured in this column twice) should be very proud.  

Amanda Nixon’s depiction of Jeanne de Bethune was fierce and dedicated, bringing to life the emotions many women have historically faced when confronted by someone younger taking the challenge they chose not to. 

Jeanne de Bethune contains a multitude of conflicting emotions throughout the whole story, making her a nuanced character. If not handled well, the audience would miss out on the complexity of this woman. Audiences are very blessed to have Nixon take on this challenge.  

Joan of Arc was depicted by Chloe Swanson, who has become a regular player to our Thurston County stages. Swanson’s depiction of Joan of Arc can be characterized by the way she emoted through her eyes, which feels really appropriate to her character. 

We know Joan of Arc was strong, defied social propriety, and had to put on a tough exterior to face it all. Vulnerability is exactly what shines through Swanson’s eyes. 

The flames of our lives 

As audiences learn in this OLT production, one of the three convictions Joan of Arc (or rather Joan the Maid) was charged with was wearing what was considered men’s clothing — aka pants. Throughout the production, Joan has the opportunity to escape her demise by putting on a dress and escaping to a convent, but she chooses not to. It is easy to forget just how brave that is: standing for and never surrendering principals. 

“The Fairest Flame” takes place during a different era and set of circumstances, but there is a core message that remains timeless: doing the “right” thing is never going to be the “easiest” thing. The idea of stepping back, hiding in our own cocoons, and ignoring the world feels like the right thing —but is it? Complacency is the greatest threat to our individual pluck and potential to make a difference, and it is what burns out our individual flames.  

I think the right thing looks different for each individual, their capabilities, as well as their limitations. We can all be heroic even in the smallest of gestures. Wherever you find yourself today, I encourage you to take a moment and reflect on your life, and see what opportunities you have to make a difference.  

Together, we are all contributing to our chapter in future history books. It is not too late to change the trajectory of our story, and it all begins with individual moments of doing the right thing. 

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https://www.thejoltnews.com/stories/review-olympia-little-theatres-the-fairest-flame,27943