BWW Reviews: SHE KILLS MONSTERS at Aurora Fox

The Aurora Fox is letting its inner-geek show...and it's kind of a bad-ass.

She Kills Monsters, the Fox's twist ending to its 30th season, pays homage to the Dungeons & Dragons culture of the '90s. Director Geoffrey Kent masterfully lends his fight choreo skills to a cast of vivacious young actors to bring the show a vibrancy of unapologetic warrior geekdom.

Set in 1995, the story follows twenty-something Agnes Evans, a high-school teacher in Ohio who recently lost her family in a car crash--notably her 15-year-old sister, Tilly. When Agnes cleans out Tilly's room, she finds her sister's D&D playbook and delves into a world where she hopes to discover the sibling she barely knew. While filled with ogres, swordfights and sexy elves, Tilly's creation unearths her inner struggles with sexuality and the evils of high school.

Parts of Qui Nguyen's play read like one you might catch presented by an edgy high school theatre club, but the Fox's talent allows the script to be fully realized. It's a mix of witty wisecracks, '90s nostalgia and dramatic moments that don't take themselves too seriously. The show's soundtrack is a rad throwback to that grungy decade.

The cast is an astounding ensemble. Lilli Hokama plays Agnes sincerely with a mature wit. Jenna Moll Reyes is feisty as her sister, Tilly, wielding a sword like a pro. Dungeon Master Chuck is given an earnest nerdiness by Jordan Doll. Josh Archer's big red demon Orcus is a comical addition to the sexiness of elfin Kaliope and leather-clad Lilith, played by Katie Cross and Lisa Ann Gaylord. Other standouts include Edwin Jordan's hilarious Steve (a guy who can't catch a break) and Kyra Lindsay's Farrah the Faerie puppeteering--easily one of my favorite scenes in the show.

The fantastical set by Brandon Philip Case makes excellent use of the Fox's deep space, featuring an epic mossy bridge. The use of D&D dice concealing set pieces is superb. Costumes by Nicole Harrison are some of the most creative of I've seen on any stage; she's crafted a mix of whimsical creatures and hardcore warriors that don't really get the stage time they deserve.

She Kills Monsters is a delightful escape into a world you may not know much about...but you'll leave longing to return. It plays now through May 16 in the main stage of the Aurora Fox Arts Center, 9900 E. Colfax Ave. For tickets, call (303)739-1970, or visit www.AuroraFox.org to check which performances include special events.

Photos by A&J Photography

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