The Convert Reviews
"As the title character, Ms. Armand persuasively combines innocence and zeal." -Charles Isher
wood, New York Times - Feb. 6, 2012
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“The Convert,” set in the 1890s in what would later become Zimbabwe, tells the story of a young African woman, Jekesai (the stunning, graceful Pascale Armand), who converts to Catholicism to escape an arranged marriage..."-Margaret Gray, Los Angeles Times - April 23, 2012
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"She begs him to hire her pretty young niece, Jekesai (Pascale Armand, a luminous actress who makes several impressive transitions)..." -Hedy Weiss, Chicago Sun-Times
"Starring as Jekesai/Ester, Pascale Armand excels at her duty of showing us a character who thinks she completely understands her devotion, and struggles as a result to respond to challenges when that devotion shows itself to be not-so-simple...Ms. Armand shows us Ester's struggle with admirable nuance."-Patrick Maley, StageMagazine.org - Jan. 12, 2012
"Armand marshals total emotional authenticity in growing the childlike Ester into a formidable vessel of power and grace." -Bob Verini, Variety - Apr. 23, 2012
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"Although the men slightly outnumber the women in the cast, it is the latter who dominate, thanks to Gurira’s writing and the commanding performance[s] of Pascale Armand... Armand is quite charismatic and convincing as a convert..."-Barnaby Hughes, Theatre-Los Angeles - April 23, 2012
"the fascinating story revolves around Chilford ...and Jekesai – played by a most talented Pascale Armand and gives a devastatingly haunting performance, delving deeply into the multiple layers of her complex character, discovering every subtle nuance and sub-textual element of this most fascinating young girl. Her performance is flawless..."-Beverly Cohn, Santa Monica Mirror - May 1, 2012
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"The push and pull Jekesai feels between centuries-old traditions and newly adopted European ways provides some of the most convincing, compelling drama in The Convert, thanks in large part to Pascale Armand's richly detailed performance as Jekesai in this Goodman Theatre production directed by Emily Mann."-Justin Hayford, Chicago Reader - Mar. 7, 2012
It doesn’t hurt to have an outstanding ensemble cast, especially Pascale Armand who, as the “reformed savage” Jekesai/Ester, delivers a captivating performance, beginning with her entrance, that never lets up. When she’s on stage, it’s hers." -Brian Hieggelke, NewCity Chicago - Mar. 5, 2012
