Family-friendly First Stage continues its season of entirely virtual plays with She Kills Monsters: Virtual Realms . This play was first performed at New York’s Flea Theater in 2011. It has had productions in various cities throughout the U.S., and over time it became one of the most-performed shows by U.S. high schools. The First Stage production is taken from the play’s recently released virtual version. It is a gripping, powerful look at some of the adult issues that teens face today.
All the teens in the cast appear on individual screens via Zoom, to provide maximum safety during the coronavirus pandemic. Since the play’s theme is about virtual reality gaming, this is a natural shift that works well with the Zoom technology.
The story opens in the bedroom of teenager Agnes Evans, who leaves her Midwest high school after the death of her slightly younger sister, Tilly. When we first encounter the sisters, it appears they couldn’t have been more different. Agnes, a cheerleader, is interested in boys, popular music and current TV shows. Tilly, however, walks a different path. Her world is centered on the “dark arts,” magic and, most importantly, the game of Dungeons and Dragons. Agnes expresses her wish for a sister who “wasn’t so geeky,” although these thoughts come back to haunt her after Tilly’s death in a car crash.
Struggling to find a way to emotionally connect with her deceased sister, Agnes discovers Tilly’s diary. Many of the entries mystify her, as they seem to indicate elements within a Dungeons and Dragons quest. This role-playing fantasy game combines medieval times with characters and creatures that use magic to cast spells, and who also engage in combat with each other. Rolled dice indicate what happens next.
As she copes with the loss of her sister, Agnes continues to reach out to her best friend, Vera, and her jock boyfriend, Miles. She also finds a phone number in Tilly’s diary to someone named Chuck. She “calls” Chuck (via video) to find out more details about her sister, and the game she loved to play. Eventually, Chuck leads Agnes into the strange world of Dungeons and Dragons. While playing the game, Agnes encounters all sorts of fairies, elves, a multi-headed dragon and other ferocious castle guardians.
While it is not imperative for audiences to understand the rules of Dungeons and Dragons to get the most out of this play, a basic knowledge of virtual fantasy games is helpful. The play’s director, Coltyn Robert Giltner, wisely chooses to insert small cartoon images of each character’s D&D “avatar” alongside the real-life cast member. The cartoon images help us follow the perilous journey that the main characters must go on to successfully complete their virtual quest.
One of these D&D characters is the deceased Tilly, known in the D&D game as a young boy named Tillius. He wears armor and knows how to vanquish some of the foes they encounter during the D&D game. As Agnes’s curiosity about the game grows, she finds newfound feelings of kinship with her sister.
This production is different from “pre-Covid” First Stage shows in ways beyond its being offered only to virtual viewers. While “typical” First Stage shows blend the work of both student and adult performers, the Monsters cast comprises only teens. They are known collectively as the First Stage Young Performers. All of them deliver impressive performances that articulate their character’s individual traits in this 60-minute production. Particularly noteworthy is Maggie Stubbs in the role of Agnes. She ably conveys a number of emotional levels, ranging from palpable sadness (over her sister’s death), to instantaneous excitement (at conquering D&D foes). Maya Thomure, playing Tilly/Tillius, excels in her ability to switch from a “living” sister to a virtual avatar. She gives an expressive, appealing performance that ties together the various ends of this otherworldly story.
Other noteworthy performances include Josie Van Slyke as Agnes’s best friend, Vera. Her character’s no-nonsense attitude brings a lighthearted touch of humor to a play with some very serious themes. Charles Elliott is likable as Miles, Agnes’s boyfriend. Max Larson shines as Chuck, the D&D game dice thrower. Sometimes, Chuck acts like a childish freshman. While narrating the D&D game, however, he humorously tries to imitate a British announcer’s tone, as if he’s explaining the action during the Westminster Dog Show. The half-dozen other performers do a good job as well.
She Kills Monsters: Virtual Realm is suggested for audiences ages 14-18. It dips into territory that would be questionable for younger viewers, such as drug use, mild language, and sexuality. Teens in the appropriate age range should find this production to be highly entertaining and thought-provoking. They’ll also find it resonates with issues in their lives. And there’s even a surprise ending.
In addition to the director, the show benefits from the talents of Austin Winter as costume designer and Lauren Arzbaecher, who creates the show’s digital animation. While the sound mixing is uneven in spots, sound coordinator Natalie Mayo does a good job overall. Sound elements blend well with the video-capturing talents of Melissa L. Wanke.
