Next Stage Festival: Duel of Ages

True Edge Productions throws down the gauntlet… and wins!

Have you ever had to fight to defend your honour? Or insulted someone’s mother to push them over the edge? True Edge Productions‘ Duel of Ages is a show about both of these situations and, most importantly, the history of dueling. From European gentlemen, to Samurai warriors, gunslingers in the Wild West, actors on the Silver Screen and more, this production debunks some of the myths about dueling and demonstrates the difference between swordsmanship and swashbuckling. With impeccable skill and timing, the actors perform awe-inspiring fight scenes that kept us on the edge of our seats.

Scene three: La Maupin is particularly memorable. We were looking forward to seeing Casey Hudecki again after watching her perform in Urban Bard’s Twelfth Night last year. She did not disappoint. All eyes were on her as she performed the role of Julie d’Aubigny, a 17th century swordswoman and opera singer with a wild reputation for her romantic dalliances with both men and women. In this sequence, d’Aubigny seduces a woman at a party while fending off several male admirers who are honing in on her lady. The combination of stage combat, dance choreography and modern, edgy music is electrifying.

Many of the scenes are based on true stories and the historical references are accurate. The company provides authentic recreations of these events, right down to the weapons that were used during each dueling era. Unfortunately, there were a few noticeable technical snafus throughout the show that caused the actors to lose focus. However, it must be said that the fight directors and performers in this show are a force to be reckoned with. We had never seen a cape used as a weapon before, but we now know that it can be done. (Only by an accomplished stage combatant and with lots of training of course!)

See the action for yourself. Duel of Ages is on stage now until January 16, 2011. Visit fringetoronto.com for more information.

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