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"A hit! A palpable hit!"

                             - Hamlet, W. Shakespeare

True Edge Productions' Duel of Ages a Toronto Fringe 2007 Favourite

Rapier Wit would like to congratulate everyone involved in the 2007 Toronto Fringe Festival production Duel of Ages, which received rave reviews throughout its run and was included in NOW Magazine's Fringe 2007 list of best ensembles. Glenn Sumi of NOW gave it 4 Ns, commenting that "the huge cast kicks major ass in the thrills department".

Both Rapier Wit and Fight Directors Canada were solidly represented in the 21-person cast, which included instructors and directors Daniel Levinson, Kevin Robinson, Michael Dufays, and Todd Campbell (who directed the whole enchilada!); Rapier Wit assistants and FDC actor-combatants Casey Hudecki, Siobhan Richardson(also the costume designer), Christopher Mott, David McCormick and Christian Feliciano; Rapier Wit members and/or FDC actor-combatants Brian Brockenshire, Stuart Constable, M. John Kennedy, Laura Miyata, Craig McDermott, Andrew McMaster, Scott Moyle and Matt Richardson; and talented performers/stage combat enthusiasts Michael Finkbeiner, Scott Leaver, Andrea Lui, and Tammy Neru. The whole shebang was capably stage-managed by Rapier Wit/FDC member Aniko Kazsas.

The following artists also contributed their talents to Duel of Ages: Stephanie Bickford (choreographer), FDC Fight Master Simon Fon (martial arts advisor), Dean Gabourie (director), Kirsten Gundlack Levinson (writer, costume support), Dennis McGrath (playwright), Mike McPhaden (playwright), Byron Rouse (narration), Michael Rubenfeld (playwright, director), and Gregg Taylor (playwright).

NOW also mentioned the ensemble in its Fringe Artists to Watch article:

THE DUEL OF AGES ENSEMBLE

Who: The four fight-director/performers in Duel Of Ages , a compendium of armed and free-hand combats chronicling the history of duelling.

Buzz: You rarely see Todd Campbell , Simon Fon , Kevin Robinson and Daniel Levinson onstage; they're usually behind-the-scenes fight choreographers. In this unusual work by some talented writers - Mike McPhaden , Dennis McGrath , Michael Rubenfeld , Gregg Taylor and Kirsten Gundlack Levinson - they'll battle for honour and the spotlight in swordplay and "wire-fu" action scenes. Careful where you sit.

Here are just a few of the comments that audience members posted on the Eye Toronto site after seeing Duel of Ages:

"5 minutes of the kick-assiest theatre I’ve seen in a long time."

"Duel of Ages flat out rules. Physical theatre at it best, with excellent choreography."

"Even at their 11 pm show the energy was amazing - even with technical difficulties the actors were all on the top of their game and the whole audience was mesmerized by their abilities."

"Duel of Ages is more than just a fight show… or a dance show… or a human-fu show. it is all of these things and more. Watching people whose intensity, passion and engery are more fierce than the weapons they wield."

"What an unbelievable experience! This show was breath-taking. The fights were exceptionally well acted and executed, and both the writing and the choreography were intelligent and entertaining…This is the way theatre SHOULD look, whether the tension and conflict is physical or verbal. These performers were not only some of the best fighters I have ever seen, but also some of the stronger actors."

"It is a first-rate piece of theatre–very funny, very high energy, entertaining and delightful and the performers are highly polished actors superior to those in many other shows."

"The fighting was superb, the acting was excellent, and if not all of the writing was incredible, all of it was competent. Most importantly, the show was thoroughly, solidly, inarguably entertaining from start to finish."

"Each fight was completely unique, making for a show that was brilliant, thrilling, hilarious, and kept me on my seat the whole time. It left me with only two thoughts after i left the theatre: “There needs to be more theatre like that” and “where do i sign up?”

"All six plays dished up tasty sword on sword, sword on dude, and flying-slow-motion-kick on dude action. The happy surprise was that most of plays sported, in addition to excellent choreography, equally excellent writing and acting."

"This show was clearly designed to showcase the fighting skills of the cast and imaginations of the choreographers, but it also manages to showcase the acting and comedic talents of the cast and writers as well."

"Wow. I loved it. My favourite show of the Fringe."

Congratulations, everyone! We look forward to working together again very soon!

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