School Performance: The 7 Fingers: Duel Reality—All’s Fair in Love and War (KCYS)

This performance is part of the Krannert Center Youth Series, school-day performances for public, private, and home schools, grades PreK-12

Two households, both alike in dignity,
In fair Verona, where we lay our scene,
From ancient grudge break to new mutiny,
Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean.

—Romeo and Juliet

Duel Reality merges acrobatics and theatre, dance and multimedia, music and storytelling to bring Shakespeare's seminal play to modern audiences. The 7 Fingers—a collective of writers, directors, choreographers, and performers based in Montreal, Canada—boils this epic love story down to the core of its conflict and drops the stage into a sporting arena. The audience is witness to two groups in opposition by default, each driven by the desire to rise above the other. Through the provocation and conflict, we catch a glimpse of our star-crossed lovers. They are fierce players but still do not seem to care who wins or loses if playing the game can bring them closer together.

Competition can be playful at times. It can also be dangerously serious.

Recommended for grades 4 and up

Originally produced and created with Virgin Voyages
Commissionning Partner: ArtsEmerson (Boston)