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Case Study: The Gladiator Games |
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Monday, 28 March 2005 |
 Theatre in the round? Outdoor stage? 35 degree heat and 35 green fighters?
No problem.
Shakespeare's Gladiator Games, produced by Toronto's Upstart Crow Theatre Company was just another day at the office for Dashing Blades. Well, another day at the office four time zones away...
This epic fight show extravaganza boasted a mammoth ensemble cast of over thirty actors performing well over a dozen fights in a fast-moving spectacle that held the audience's attention right through to the final act.
Dashing Blades was tasked with the challenge of not only composing all of the fights for the show and arming the complete production, but getting the enormous cast in fighting shape over the two month ramp up to curtain. The continuous stream of physically strenuous performances, from gladiator fights (the best and most thrilling towards the very end, according to www.thevarcity.ca) to campy cat fights kept audiences entertained, if not cool, throughout the hot 75 minute outdoor performance.
"The Greek and Trojan battle resembles the last five minutes of “Blazing Saddles”- picture the homo-erotic mayhem without the top hats and tails.” - www.drama.ca |
