Dr. Charles Smith, Gilpin County. The Gilpin School Theatre Department presented She Kills Monsters on April 18-20, 2019. The story of Agnes, a young woman grieving for her deceased sister, Tilly. The sisters were never especially close, but after Tilly’s death, Agnes discovers her Dungeons and Dragons notebook. The notebook contains a game scenario created by Tilly. The comedic romp into the world of fantasy role-playing and a journey of an action-packed adventure and discovery in the imaginary world that was Tilly’s refuge, is the subject material of the play.

Tilly was a well-known D & D player and was passionate about online fantasy gaming. Agnes recruits a Dungeon Master named Chuck to help to understand her sister by unlocking secrets about her involvement. Along the journey we meet homicidal fairies, nasty ogres and 90s pop culture. Dungeons and Dragons was conceived in 1971 as a table top game but came alive in DVD in 1991. It is recognized as the beginning of modern role-playing games. Characters embark upon imaginary adventures with a fantasy setting. As of 2004, D & D remained the best known and best selling role-playing game.

Director of the Gilpin Theatre Department, Hanna Raynes, has assembled a cast of 23 young thespians, supported by 13 members of the technical crew, to deliver a polished and excellent theatrical production.

Gilpin students “expressed how the theatre was a safe place where they are accepted for who they were. Students also convey the significance of feeling they could escape the outside world and play a character so opposite of themselves.”

“This show is about loss, escape and finding the people in life that make the journey worthwhile. It’s about acceptance and feeling a sense of belonging in a world that sometimes makes you feel overwhelmed and helpless,” says Raynes.

The opening prologue, which was written by Raynes, provides the audience with facts and figures on the issue of bullying. This educational curtain warmer underpinned the audience with the content of the subject material of the play.

The leading characters are played by Archer O’Brien, as Tilly, and Claire Diekmann, as Agnes. Both young ladies delivered well developed characterizations. Mature and convincing.

The narrator was played by Warren Hardman. His opening scene was first rate and clearly set the tone for the remainder of the 2-hour production. Damian Sonsino was in command as the Dungeon Master Chuck. He had some fine moments of comedy.

Highlights of the theatrical production were the sound, design, costumes and the fight choreography. I laughed quite loudly at the Fresh Prince and Friends motif. The five headed dragon added to the special effects.

The pace and delivery of the script was crisp and aided the young performers in delivering a script that is relevant, with deep seated social issues which they experience in real life on a daily basis.

A surprisingly sweet tale of friendship, loss and acceptance unfolds.

Photos Courtesy of Azure Hardy.

(Originally published in the May 2, 2019, print edition of The Mountain-Ear.)