Nonesuch Players Tackle Monsters
The Nonesuch Players will stage an action-packed version of Qui Nguyen’s She Kills Monsters next week - November 9, 10, and 11 - in the Black Box Theater in Haffenreffer. Filled with courageous heroes and monstrous villains who clash repeatedly in sword-wielding combat, the story is actually one of acceptance and inclusion, perfectly attuned to the issues that today’s society continues to struggle with.
“I chose She Kills Monsters for this fall’s play because of its great big heart,” said Director Juliet Chase Bailey. “Yeah, of course, there are monsters and fighting and crazy lights and costumes, but at its core, this play is about our human need to live in a judgment-free world in which we can be our most authentic, fiercest selves and slay those monsters that haunt us. This year’s cast has worked hard to bring this story to life in a funny, moving, and meaningful way. I’m very proud of them.”
Drawing on the world of Dungeons and Dragons that captured the hearts and minds of the Gen-Xers a decade or two ago, She Kills Monsters traces the path of discovery taken by Agnes Evans (Dominique Marshall) as she tries to make sense of the untimely death of her sister Tilly (Louise Ambler) in a car accident. Guided by her sister’s Dungeons & Dragons notebook, Agnes enters the fantasy world her sister had created as a way of dealing with painful issues in her daily life.
While the audience may be captivated by how well the Nonesuch Players have mastered the art of lopping off limbs, they will walk away with some thought-provoking messages to ponder about identity, bullying, and the fact that you don’t need a sword to inflict a heart—or soul—breaking wound.
This fall’s Nonesuch Players include (in order of appearance): Phie Jacobs ’18 as Narrator/Kaliope/Kelly; Louise Ambler ’18 as Tilly Evans/Tillius the Paladin; Dominique Marshall ’18 as Agnes Evans; Charlie Bondhus ’18 as Chuck; Zack Zhang ’18 as Miles; Julia Homa ’18 as Lilith/Lily; Chrismary Gonzalez ’18 as Orcus/Ronnie; Owen Pfannenstiehl ’19 as The Great Mage, Steve/Steve; Julia Slayne ’18 as Vera Martin/The Beholder; Gianny Cepeda ’18 as Farrah the Faerie/Evil Gabbi; and Aliesha Campbell ’20 as Evil Tina.
Maya Wasserman ’18 is the stage manager and the tech crew includes Kira Iacopucci ’18 and Isabel Teixeira ’18. Assisting Director Bailey is Julia Auster ’06 as assistant director and Ben Leeming as technical director. Judy Weiner is overseeing the props and costumes. Callie Kamanitz ’19 and Julia Auster choreographed the action, with assistance from Chris Cardoni (and Rivers’ expert-in-residence Dr. Julian Willard) on the stage combat for faerie and cheerleader fights. Rounding out the crew is Chris Fournier on lighting.
Tickets are $5 and go on sale online on November 6 at www.rivers.org/monsters. The play begins at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday and Friday. There are two performances on Saturday, at 2:00 and 6:00 p.m.
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