From left to right, freshman Frankie McClaren, junior Ella Zubieni and sophomore Adam Millikan can be found on stage together where they all played significant roles in the show.
From the preview on Feb. 26 to the final performance on March 1, “She Kills Monsters” was well-attended, well-performed and well-received by the Doane community.
“Now sit back, relax, put your dice away, and enjoy the show,” junior Ella Zubieni said before taking the stage as the lead actress.
The story follows Agnes, played by Zubieni, who loses her younger sister Tilly, played by freshman Frankie McClaren and their parents in a car accident. Two years later, she discovers a Dungeons and Dragons campaign designed by Tilly. As freshman Kenzie Sanders explains in her role as the narrator, Tilly was the “rarest nerd of all—a girl nerd.” Agnes never understood her sister’s interests, but now that she’s gone, she is determined to learn about them.
With sarcasm, wit and sheer ridiculousness, the show elicited laughs throughout its run. The audience witnessed TV-obsessed demons, chainsaw-wielding fairies and dance battles with succubi, along with the constant confusion over the meaning of “roleplay,” especially when involving high school students.
A majority of the cast members can be found on stage together in a final scene of them playing Dungeons and Dragons.
Attention to detail was paramount in this production. The set featured a mix of giant and life-sized objects. Chuck, played by sophomore Adam Millikan, commands the game from a giant eraser used as a desk, and oversized dice frame the stage. Costumes change throughout the performance as characters shift between real life and the game’s fantasy.
Despite the comedy and epic battles, the sisterhood between Agnes and Tilly takes center stage. Tilly’s identity—more than just a girl nerd—is at the heart of the show. Agnes is shocked to discover that Tilly was gay and begins to question how well she knew her sister. Zubieni and McClaren deliver heartfelt performances as the show explores their sisterly relationship and the things left unsaid.
Following “Between the Lines,” this production marks another great performance by Doane Theatre. Those who unfortunately missed it can see Doane Theatre later this spring in “A Map of Virtue.” While it remains to be seen whether this show will similarly blend fantasy and reality, it promises to deliver horror-comedy at the Whitcomb. Audiences can expect stellar performances and heartfelt messages that tug at their heartstrings.
