She Kills Monsters will show at the Bloomington Playwrights Project in downtown Bloomington, December 5-6, 11-13, 18-20, 2014 at 7:30p. Go see it.

I live in Bloomington, Indiana. One of the many great things about Bton (as I and others call it) is our art scene. We maybe a town of 80,000 (thousands of those being college students) but we’ve got quite the live theater scene. One of our Bloomington gems is the Bloomington Playwrights Project (BPP). It is the “only professional theater in Indiana dedicated to new plays”. (See the Website.)

Mildred of the Horrorible Reviews loves to see the new plays at BPP. So a few months ago she told me that Hubby and I HAD to get tickets to see a new play called She Kills Monsters. At first I thought it would be a horror show – I mean, have you read her reviews? But Mildred told me I had to see it because it was about D&D. Dungeons and Dragons. THE role playing game that has inspired generations to use their brains, learn some math, improve writing skills, create worlds and characters, and have fun! Yes I am an educator and a Geek and I do know what I am talking about. I thought, “Ok. I’ll get tickets and Hubby and I will join Mildred and her playing going buddies”.

I’m glad I did. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

She Kills Monsters is still under my skin. I’m thinking about it. Quoting it. Wondering if they have a video of the dance battle. (Oh yeah, there’s a dance battle.) I want my own script copy so I can read it again. I want to watch a video recording of the play. Well actually I want to buy it and watch over and over.

She Kills Monsters hit all the right notes for me. Lots of women characters, lots of fun characters both male and female, and lots of humor. Fret not, if you don’t know anything about D&D you are in the same boat as our main heroine, Agnes, well played by Heather Michele Lawler. You will learn about D&D because Agnes wants to learn about her sister Tilly (good job Emily Kelly) – and Tilly is a fantastic player of D&D. You will laugh at the jokes and REALLY laugh if you are a gamer. Plus the play has use of puppetry, dance, and music that will make you happy. I also got a big kick out of the Narrator (Kelsey Carlisle) dressed as a magical Elven Queen – or so it looked to me and Kaliope (Korinne Dunn) was a wonderful warrior Elf. Finally I must salute Chuck, played by Ben Smith. He’s a big brain DM – Dungeon Master – and the actor played him finesse, skill, and lots of good geekery. Oh let’s just cheer the entire cast and crew. Well done!!!

I would now like to salute the playwright Qui Nguyen for writing about Geek themes and including women. Well done sir! I would like to read all of your plays and as soon I am done posting this, I will go look for them online. (Gosh I hope I can buy them.) I also think She Kills Monsters would be a wonderful movie. (Hey Joss Whedon, you could so film this in your house.) This play is also a celebration of being different and being proud of it. Whatever stereotypes were in the show were dealt with by the end. (Though I gotta admit I am tired of cheerleaders being bad/dumb. Seriously people, this idea needs to be dumped.)

Oh – some final Geekery!: Bloomington, Indiana is the future hometown of Captain Kathryn Janeway from Star Trek: Voyager. I think the good Captain would enjoy She Kills Monsters. It’s right up her alley.

LINKS:

• Qui Nguyen – Author
• Bloomington Playwrights Project (BPP)
• BPP- About
• BPP Instagram – Orcus from She Kills Monsters
• Official City of Bloomington Website
• Bloomington, Indiana – Wikipedia
• Joss Whedon

“She Kills Monsters” cover on Bloomington Playwrights Project Website, December, 19, 2014.

EDIT! Jessica of the BPP sent me the below video made for their showing of She Kills Monsters. Enjoy!

Video for Buzz22 Chicago Presents: SHE KILLS MONSTERS