BWW Reviews: Into the World of D&D with Company One's SHE KILLS MONSTERS

I have always considered myself to be somewhat of a dork, though my nerdy interests have generally been limited to musical theatre and Harry Potter. My knowledge of video games extends only to Mario Kart, and I have never known what constitutes a game of Dungeons and Dragons. So as I approached Company One's production of She Kills Monsters, a piece that centers around D&D, I was hesitant, fearing I was not quite enough of a dork to understand the story.

Luckily for me, the piece simply uses the role-playing game as an outline, explaining the rules as it goes along, and illustrating the much more real issue of a woman coming to terms with her sister's death. She Kills Monsters has the feel of a comic book, while telling the story of Agnes, an average woman who gets to know her late sister by acting out her created game of Dungeons and Dragons. Along the way, Agnes meets her sister's friends, learns her sister's opinions about Agnes's own relationships, and comes to terms with the fact that they did not know each other well enough when her sister was still alive. And all of this occurs in one large role-playing game, complete with monsters, sword fighting, blood sucking cheerleaders, and puppets.

I think this piece is applicable to all audiences, regardless of their experience with D&D, because of the familial storyline; however, I do believe those who understand the game do have a bit of an advantage. I enjoyed myself thoroughly throughout, but could not always tell if the production was playfully poking fun at the game or taking itself completely seriously. The puppet versions of the monsters were very colorful and silly, which I believe were meant to be comical, acknowledging the goofiness of the game, while also promoting its ability to bring people together. Though for all I know, that's what the monsters in D&D actually look like.

The show was very fun. It was weird, definitely, but super silly and entertaining. I wouldn't be surprised if this piece becomes a sort of cult classic, as it is interactive and colorful and in your face. The humor is abundant and the piece runs rampant with 90s references and sharp, sassy wit. All of the cast had their moments to shine, though I was most amused by Mike Handelman as Chuck, the high school dungeon master, who presented a hilarious caricature of a 90s nerd. It is also worth noting that the humor came so naturally to all the actors, but in a story full of monster fighting, ghosts, and gelatinous beings, the writing did not automatically demand incredibly deep, emotional performances. That being said, Paige Clark Perkinson, who played Agnes, gave us a glimpse into what the actors were capable of, as she broke down with beautiful and honest grief, in a moment of realization that her sister was gone. The piece asked for silly performances, but the actors stepped up when deeper emotions were necessary.

All of the actors also took part in extensive stage combat, both in using swords and other weapons, and in taxing physical fighting. I was impressed with the endurance and ability to remain so present that all the actors seemed to possess, though I was a little nervous about how close to the audience the action came. In fact, I believe a dislodged limb flew right into the seats. I was pleased by what I saw, but also incredibly thankful that I wasn't in the front row.

The most impressive part of the production, in my opinion, was how ingeniously the set was used. The piece took place, for the most part, in a bedroom, but was magically transported to the world of the game, with set pieces that swung around and transformed, colorful lights that changed dramatically between locations, costumes that varied from classic 90s garb to extensive D&D armor, and an incredible old school video game soundscape. The space was utilized brilliantly and I definitely believed the transportation to another world.

I have to hand it to playwright Qui Nguyen and director Shira Milikowsky for taking an aspect of nerd culture that many people do not get an opportunity to experience and making it accessible and engaging to the general public. Throughout the piece I had moments of "well, this is weird", but never in a negative way. In fact, I became so interested and present, easily getting lost in this world in which I do not know the rules. For people who are familiar with D&D, I imagine this show is a hilarious blend of real world issues and the magic of the game, and I envy those who came in with that prior knowledge, but as an outsider, I managed to get sucked in pretty quickly.

Written by Qui Nguyen; Directed by Shira Milikowsky; Scenic Design by Eric D. Diaz; Lighting Design by Justin Paice; Costume Design by Miranda Giurleo; Sound Design by Aaron Mack; Properties Design by Sam Sewell; Puppet Design by Alexandra Herryman; Dramaturgy by Phil Berman; Stage Managed by Julie Marie Langevin; Fight Direction by Robert Najarian

CAST (in alphabetical order): Noam Ash, JorDan Clark, Jamianne Devlin, Jacqui Dupre, Adobuere Ebiama, Mike Handelman, Paige Clark Perkinson, Meredith Saran, Stewart EVan Smith, Jordan Sobel, Kaitee Tredway.

Company One's production of She Kills Monsters performs through May 11 at the Plaza Theatre at the Boston Center for the Arts. For more information, visit www.companyone.org.

PHOTO CREDIT: companyone.org