The FGCU Theatre Program blended fantasy, comedy and emotional storytelling in its latest production, “She Kills Monsters.” The show, directed by Dan Bacalzo and written by Qui Nguyen, returned to the stage last weekend with its four final performances April 17-19.
Originally produced in 2011, “She Kills Monsters” has become one of the most frequently performed contemporary plays at colleges and community theaters across the country. Its popularity stems from a combination of imaginative fantasy elements inspired by tabletop role-playing games and themes that many young adults can relate to.
The main character of this play is Agnes Evans, who plays a key role in driving the story’s emotional journey. Senior Brielle Midler plays her younger sister, Tilly Evans. Midler said the show balances humor and action with deeper themes that resonate with audiences.
“I would describe ‘She Kills Monsters’ as a hilarious show about a D&D party going on an adventure to save the lost soul of Athens, but at its core, it’s about grief, love and desperation for something you can’t get back,” Midler said.
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The production features fast-paced fight scenes, colorful costumes and fantasy-inspired characters that bring the story’s imagined world to life on stage. Performers use prop weapons and choreographed combat sequences throughout the show, adding an action-driven element that sets it apart from more traditional stage productions.
Midler said the physical demands of the production, particularly the stage combat, made the experience both challenging and rewarding for performers.
“Stage combat is just like dancing,” she said. “You must trust your partner and move with them to tell the story. This show has so many insane fight sequences in it, and it’s so fun to do every time.”
For sophomore theatre major Grace Duncan, one of the most enjoyable parts of preparing for the production was learning the physical elements of the show, including staged combat scenes.
“Definitely working with the prop weapons and learning how to use them correctly when fighting,” she said.
Duncan plays Lily/Lilith, a character who adds both humor and intensity to the story’s real-life and fantasy worlds. Duncan said the show uses its imaginative setting to explore meaningful emotions in an accessible way.
“‘She Kills Monsters’ is a play that discusses the process of grief along with the fantastical world of Dungeons and Dragons,” Duncan said. “It’s about this young woman named Agnes Evans, who had lost her parents and sister, and finds her younger sister’s D&D game that she created and plays along to understand more about her.”
Gavin Regalado, a freshman theatre major, plays Miles, who is Agnes’ boyfriend. Regalado said the collaborative nature of the production helped create a strong sense of community among performers.
“The nature of the show is very big, and my fellow actors weren’t afraid to go big,” Regalado said. “Making this as a collection of everybody’s efforts has been so much fun, and I would do it a million times over.”
Regalado said the story resonates with audiences because it reflects experiences many people share.
“Everybody’s faced loss or grief in their life,” he said. “The idea that you’re not alone, because you’re in a room full of people who all relate to the story in their own way, creates a sense of community.”
Payton Erickson, a student who attended one of the performances, was among the audience members who felt emotionally affected by the show.
“This play impacted me emotionally way more than I thought it would,” Erickson said. “Through all the wackiness and humor, which already made the play good, is a deep and thoughtful story of family and friendship.”