By Rachel Beecher for DC Metro Theatre Arts, 16 September 2015
Kill Will at The Philadelphia Shakespeare Theatre has combat, drama, more combat, comedy, and a little more combat. Written by Barter Theater Associate Artistic Director Derek Davidson and directed by Philadelphia local Kevin McGuire, this show is quick compilation of Shakespeare’s fight scenes from all genres, such as Macbeth, As You Like It, King Lear, and Macbeth, As You Like It, King Lear, and many more. [sic.]
Since the show is a compilation, it is quite a unique take on the original text. The actors become dramatized versions of themselves to introduce and segue the scenes and then immediately and usually humorously jump into familiar archetypal characters. This storytelling tactic often highlights inside jokes of the players. With digestible tidbits of Shakespeare, these are helpful audience introductions to all of the selections, especially the lesser known plays.
McGuire’s staging is minimal, considering most of the show consisted of Fight Director Michael Cosenza’s combat. Combat consisted of armed, unarmed, and almost everything in between. The use of all of the stage, entrance, exits, and aisles was wonderfully diverse in this show, attributed to the combat itself. Sometimes the blocking falls victim to the difficulty of a thrust stage, but I have no doubt that will be rectified in front of the next audience. The design was simple and effective, allowing the audience to concentrate on the intense physical action at hand.
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