Fantasy role-playing comes to life in WT Theatre’s ‘She Kills Monsters’
CANYON — A young woman’s quest to understand her sister — and to fight monsters alongside her — is at the heart of the latest drama from West Texas A&M University Theatre.
“She Kills Monsters” by Qui Nguyen will be staged at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 26 to 28 and Nov. 2 to 4, and 2:30 p.m. Oct. 29 and Nov. 5 in the Happy State Bank Studio Theatre in WT’s Sybil B. Harrington Fine Arts Complex.
Agnes (Leighson Selman, a senior musical theatre major from Amarillo) is a 20-something high school English teacher whose younger sister, Tilly (Signe Elder, a senior musical theatre major from Lubbock), dies tragically.
“That compels Agnes to investigate Tilly’s life and get to know her in a way she didn’t get to while Tilly was alive,” said director Stephen Crandall, professor of theatre in WT’s Sybil B. Harrington College of Fine Arts and Humanities. “She stumbles across a Dungeons & Dragons module that Tilly created and convinces a dungeon master friend of Tilly’s to let her play it.”
Along the way, Agnes gets a crash course in Tilly’s life and secrets.
“Tilly was a 16-year-old girl who was a big nerd, a big geek, and quite a bit misunderstood by her family,” Elder said. “She was bullied for being a lesbian, so Dungeons & Dragons was her way to escape and become a powerful warrior who can fight off her bullies.”
The audience sees those battles come to life through elaborate costumes and fight choreography as Agnes and Tilly’s in-game avatar fight through the campaign.
“We’re embracing the creativity of this world,” Crandall said. “People love fantasy films and TV shows like ‘Lord of the Rings,’ ‘The Witcher,’ ‘Game of Thrones,’ so anyone who enjoys a fantastical story approach should enjoy this.”
The lead actors — neither of whom have played D&D before — appreciate the imagination required by their roles.
“D&D really makes sense for theater kids to do,” Elder said. “It’s all about improv and acting and characterizations and fantasy.”
“This is my first show with a lot of fight choreography,” Selman said, “and it’s very difficult. It’s hard to act like you’re hurt when you’re not hurt.”
Though a sister’s grief is at the heart of the show, it’s not mournful, Crandall said.
“The play is hysterical,” the director said. “It doesn’t take itself too seriously. And I don’t think you have to know anything about Dungeons and Dragons to enjoy. It’s much more about the sisters’ relationship than this game.”
Cast members also include Angelica Pantoja, a junior acting major from Lubbock, as Lilith/Lillie; Carter Black, a junior acting major from Lubbock, as Orcus/Ronnie; Ethan Wilkerson, a junior theater performance major from Dalhart, as Miles; Hannah Lannou, a freshman theater education major from Canyon, as a monster; Hunter Russell, a freshman acting major from Sundown, as a monster; Jaxon Stubblefield, a junior acting major from Malakoff, as Chuck; Kaitlyn Frausto, a junior acting major from Hereford, as a monster; Kenzie Cohan, a freshman acting major from Ropesville, as a monster; Kyndal Knapp, a junior theater performance major from Sweetwater, as Farrah; Leigh Womack, a senior theater performance major from Hereford, as a monster; Liv Martin, a junior acting major from Houston, as Evil Tina; Makayla Puryear, a sophomore acting major from Lubbock, as Vera; Noa Sorrell, a junior musical theatre major from Dallas, as Evil Gabbi; Rylee Bass, a junior acting major from Brownsboro, as the narrator; Savannah Bohl, a junior musical theatre major from Muenster, as Kaliope/Kelly; Tucker McCann, a sophomore theatre performance major from San Angelo, as Steve; and Ty Thompson, a junior acting major from Fort Worth, as a monster.
Tickets are $12 adults, $8 seniors and students, and free for WT students, faculty and staff with Buff Gold Card. For tickets, visit the Box Office in the Fine Arts Complex, email artsboxoffice@wtamu.edu or call 806-651-2810.
This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: Role-playing comes to life in WT Theatre’s ‘She Kills Monsters’
