Title: . . . and they fight!

Written by: Richard Buswell and Nigel Delahoy

Date saw the show: July 29, 2007
Place saw the show: Kansas City, Missouri, Fringe Festival
Company: Merry BanD Productions (www.merrybandproductions.com)

4 Stars

Reviewed by: Deborah Ground Buckner

“ . . . and they fight!” is “possibly the vaguest stage direction in theatre or cinema and the most underestimated,” according to the program notes prepared by Merry BanD Productions (the B and D are for the last names of the group's founders: Richard Buswell and Nigel Delahoy). “ . . . and they fight!” is a celebration of fight choreography.

Buswell, of Kansas City, Missouri, has been performing and choreographing fight scenes for stage and film since 1986. Delahoy, new to the Kansas City area, is a martial artist and an actor/combatant. Both envisioned a play that would showcase fight choreography at its fullest potential, and their offering for the 2007 Kansas City Fringe Festival is the result.

The audience is treated to a variety of fight scenes. First, “(S)he's a Pirate,” gives an good old-fashioned swashbuckling fight (if four against one can be considered old-fashioned). There are plenty of leaps and spins as the blades ring together until finally, one woman is standing. “The Bound Duel” shows two combatants, their left hands bound together, fighting with knives. If one man falls, his opponent likely does as well, providing some fast-paced tumbles and rolls until, ultimately, the fighters “kill” each other. “Kung Fu Amazons” provides an excellent demonstration of opponents battling with long staffs, with enough kicks and ki-ais to please any crowd. “In the Stone” demonstrates the dance-like movements of fencing, as pairs of duelers almost appear to perform a ballet.

Not all the fighting is serious, though. “The Hand” shows a young man whose right hand clearly has a mind of its own, both attacking him and getting him into some rather embarrassing social situations. “Roly-Poly” features two fighters in sack-like garments that prohibit leg movement fighting hand-to-hand, sword-to-sword, and staff-to-staff. An audience favorite was “COOKIE!” where a group of four young men with the munchies fight for the last cookie in the package. The show closes with “We Got Rhythm,” with the cast providing the beat of swords clanging together, staffs hitting each other and some strong foot stomping.

There should be more appearances in the future for this clever salute to the choreographers and combatants who make stage and film fights come to life.