The Gunpowder Plot to Stage Shakespeare Fight Night in 'A PALPABLE HIT'

The Gunpowder Plot presents, from the producers of Shit-faced Shakespeare, a new theatrical experience: "A Palpable Hit: Shakespeare's Best Fight Scenes."

A Palpable Hit is a rowdy showcase of the best fights in Shakespeare: funny, tragic, brutal, fierce. We explore the world of story and meaning in the stage direction "they fight." As an exploration of why people resort to violence, it's all the explosive action without the lengthy buildup.

Swordplay, slapstick, murder, and freestyle ultimate fighting will leave audiences wanting more. Scenes include...

The heavyweights:

Hamlet vs. Laertes

Mercutio vs. Tybalt vs. Romeo .

The welterweights:

Petruchio vs. Katharina

Hermia vs. Helena

The rookie contenders:

Young Siward vs. MacBeth

Joan of Arc vs. King of France

And other surprises in the undercard!

Producer and local theatre veteran Daniel Berger-Jones describes the appeal from a theater producer's view: "Our goal is always to get more people involved with Shakespeare. We've tried using booze with SFS, so the next natural step was either going to be sex or violence. We decided to go with stage combat, as the other option is a little less savory onstage."

Michael Anderson is the four-time Story Slam champion who conceptualized the piece: "Shakespeare is about adrenalin. We want to show how the verse bursts into life when his characters have to fly or fight."

The Gunpowder Plot is a collaboration of some of Boston's top actors and Fight Choreographers. The ensemble of the show rotates responsibilities: each scene may have a different director, fight director, and combatants. Angie Jepson, one of the most sought-after fight choreographers in Boston, has helped with the fights, but also chips in to actually play her favorite roles, for a change. "I never actually get to fight! More often, I'm choreographing fights for other people," Jepson chimes in.

Omar Robinson, who will be fresh off his title performance in Actors' Shakespeare Project's Hamlet, is another Boston stage combat legend. "I needed something active to help me recover from the hangover of playing Hamlet, and I do love to fight. Onstage. Not in real life," he says.

IF YOU GO:

A Palpable Hit: Shakespeare's Best Fight Scenes

Dates: November 25th-December 11th.

Times: Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday are at 8:00, and Sunday at 4:00pm.

**Special industry and PRESS NIGHT on Monday, November 28th at 8:00pm.

Where: The Durrell Theater at the Cambridge YMCA, 820 Massachusetts Ave. in Central Square

Our cast includes Gabriel Kuttner*, Angie Jepson *, Omar Robinson*, Daniel Berger-Jones, Cameron Gosselin, Marge Dunn, Sarah Gazdowicz, Dalton Gorden, and Michael Anderson

For more information, or to purchase tickets, visit www.APalpableHit.com or like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/palpablehit.

To post a comment, you must register and login.