BWW Reviews: SWORDPLAY Brings Hilarity to the Montreal Fringe Festival

By: Jun. 12, 2015
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Sex T-Rex's Swordplay: A Play of Swords has all the fixings for a simply hilarious, one-hour show that will leave audiences giggling long after it's over.

Presented for the Montreal Fringe Festival, Swordplay: A Play of Swords masterfully parodies the stereotypical medieval genre and it's static knight-saves-princess narrative. Indeed, multiple pop cultural references are thrown into the hilarious script these performers have produced, the most obvious of which are the numerous allusions to Game of Thrones and Princess Bride.

The group's use of what limited props they possessed was perhaps what made the entire production so awe-inspiring. A simple bed sheet shifts from being a flight of stairs, to a rowboat, and finally to a massive fire-breathing dragon. Sex T-Rex is well-known for employing actors that have mastered the art of physical comedy and improvisation. Their perfectly executed miming combined with the creative use of objects keeps the audience's imagination running.

The group's use of raw slapstick comedy is becoming increasingly rare in an era where theatre shows regularly employ elaborate and intricate sets that leave little to the imagination. With no set besides the black curtain backdrop, all indicators for landscape and environment are produced and played by the actor's themselves. That is to say, in addition to playing multiple characters, each actor also plays pieces of the scenery such as trees and birds.

If you're interested in checking out a show for the Montreal Fringe Festival, this show is sure to prove one of the best the festival has to offer.

Swordplay: A Play of Swords runs from June 10-21 at Théâtre Sainte Catherine (264 Sainte-Catherine E.) Tickets are $10 for students and $12 at the regular price. For more information, click here.

Image source: http://sextrexcomedy.com/swordplay/



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