She Kills Monsters
The Caxton Players
Caxton Theatre Grimsby
22 - 29 July 2023
Director John Ferguson has a penchant for swashbuckling swordplay in his choice of plays to stage at the Caxton Theatre. Qui Nguyn's play offers the chance for Fergusson and his cast to indulge their passion for fantasy worlds and at first sight, this may not seem to be everyone's cup of tea. However, the play though set against a backdrop of Dungeons and Dragons is far more layered and nuanced in its tone and message. You do not need to be familiar with D&D to watch the play. You can access exactly what is happening with no prior knowledge of the ultimate fantasy-gaming pastime. THE PLAY IS NOT ABOUT DUNGEONS AND DRAGONS. The play is about human relations, about having dreams and the healing nature of a vivid imagination and above all, it is a poignant exploration of grief through humour and coping through drama. I repeat, it is NOT just about a tabletop game.
The play sets up sibling rivalry between two sisters, Tilly and Agnes Evans. One is an aspiring teacher in her early twenties with a long-term boyfriend and the other is a nerdy introvert, with an immense imagination and the ability to create very real worlds, crafting a game for her and her friends to play. In fact Tilly has garnered quite a legendary reputation among fellow gamers for the way in which she designs her adventures. The two sisters bicker until one day, Agnes is left alone as the result of a car crash in which her entire family, including Tilly, is killed. In an effort to deal with her own grief and in order to connect with the spirit of her sister, Agnes agrees to play through Tilly's last game and embarks on a journey unlike any other.
Through the game, Agnes encounters an extremely colourful set of characters and begin to discover secrets about her sister that she had no suspicion of prior to playing her game. The deeper she goes into the fantasy world, the more she discovers about Tilly and about herself.
Ferguson has shaped a world that draws its audience in deceptively until they realise that the play is absolutely NOT about D&D but the people who play it, or the people who do not. The set is reasonably open and provides a flexible playing space. The "castle" set piece remains on throughout, serving different purposes as it does, from Tilly's bedroom through to various stages of the quest Agnes has embarked upon. Lighting is sharp and dramatic though at times, perhaps a little too stark leaving key players in darkness for certain scenes.
The cast of She Kills Monsters is excellent; everyone is absolutely on board and understands their mission in this play. As the elder sister Agnes, Molly Charnley brings a maturity to the role and effectively portrays pain in need of resolution and a quest for understanding. We are with her every step of the way and rooting for her to find her peace as a result of this story. Sister Tilly is played by Caxton newbie Abbi Coppock. Initially, Tilly is seen as a rather annoying brat - a slightly indulged younger sibling determined to spoil things for her elder sister. Coppock succeeds in altering our view with a deep and sensitive portrayal of a girl, still discovering who she is and what makes her tick, when life is suddenly ripped from her far too young. Charnley and Coppock make an excellent, believable pair as sisters.
Agnes is introduced to a host of fantasy figures by Chuck, the Dungeon Master within the game, who throws the dice to decide the fate of each individual as the game progresses. Josh Wainwright makes a wonderfully clownish Chuck who takes himself far too seriously though often forgets and lets is guard down. Perhaps not quite the 16-year-old he is portraying, nevertheless Wainwright is eminently watchable and well-cast.
Miles, Agnes's significant other, is a thankless role, played brilliantly by Jack Scott who manages to present a level of chaos and confusion that would leave many other actors struggling but he retains credibility, and his comic timing is terrific. Agnes' real-life confidant Vera is played by Lucy Tooze, who absolutely milks every last drop out her numerous character portrayals within the play - watch out for Evil Gabbi, a part Tooze clearly relishes playing. Evil Gabbi's other half is Evil Tina played by Lucy-Ann Jessop who is currently studying GCSE Drama, with a view to taking her studies further and we wish her well.
Chris Ladson returns to the Caxton stage as the redneck/red-faced demon Orcus and with a rich, Southern accent and a love of both the TV show Friends and Cheesy Puffs, creates a loveable rogue we can identify with. The delicately elfin Kalliope, is played by Prosper Jackson in their first role for the Caxton Theatre. They present an ethereal, magical pin-up, who is definitely attracted to both sexes. To meet Kalliope's alter-ego provides a stunning reveal when Agnes meets the characters' real world counterparts.
Jess Howden looks fierce with her fiery red eyes and leather fantasy wear, a sword-wielding rogue who loves violence and wants to look great committing it. It is a stunning contrast to her last role as a mousey introvert in Blink at the Caxton Theatre in March. I suspect that we still have much to discover about Howden's range over coming plays, a very talented performer who makes the most of this smaller role.
My favourite character is the hapless Adventurer Steve played by Carl Wingate. Another actor who is clearly not the high schooler he plays, but he approaches the role with so much energy and gusto you will be willing to overlook that. It is perhaps fair to question whether Steve could even be related to South Park's Kenny. I shall say no more, but I loved his performance. Last but not least, is the Narrator. Bob Watson a Caxton stalwart of many years is finally able to combine his love of D&D with is love of performing. Bob has played the game in real-life for many, many years and was keen to perform in this affectionate homage to the game. It is he, who sets the scene and informs us of the world before the internet and MMORPGs! A more appropriate casting has yet to occur at the Caxton Theatre.
All in all, She Kills Monsters isn't an original idea - it covers much the same ground as Felicia Day's legendary web series The Guild did in the late 2000s - as a gathering of oddballs from the real world who find love, acceptance and purpose through the game. However, SKM elevates the LGBTQ+ platform and treats it sensitively and with respect and we are presented with a touching and poignant exploration of the human condition. Go and see it, you may be pleasantly surprised by the show.
She Kills Monsters runs at the Caxton Theatre Grimsby from 22 - 29 July 2023.
Andy Evans 22 July 2023
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