Barry Brennan’s Bi-monthly Dungeons and Dragons Sessions – a Geek Tragedy @ The Merchants' Hall

Review by Antony Sammeroff | 10 Aug 2013

Barry Brennan is Dungeon Master. He created a perilous world of suspense and adventure for his zealous adherents to quest in: Slaying dragons, fleeing goblins, turning the undead. Six continents. Four moons. It took him over a decade.

Now one of his players is leaving.

But Dungeons and Dragons requires commitment. There is to be no dropping out of the campaign. Not for marital difficulties, not for “a wee drop of cancer,” – and certainly not to move to the States with your ditzy materialistic girlfriend just to climb the corporate food-chain in the lingerie business. No. Commitment is Everything. After all, we’ve got history together.

In this synthesis of geek culture-infused hilarity, cliché and drama Barry confronts his own existential crisis while his ever-faithful cohorts – the pedantic Alan, and dominant groupie, Shona – beseech him not to lose faith in the game. Practical Magic Theatre Company boast nuanced performances, particularly from Iain Campbell and Kim Allan who play the couple that threaten to tear apart the longest running Dungeons and Dragons game in Western Europe!

“A whole world right here, every second Monday,” the players declare in an intense penultimate scene which brings the game to life, movingly, just before an unanticipated ending. Turn up to The Merchants' Hall to join the action/adventure – but don’t forget your character sheet – this show will have you rearing to roll dice and kick ass.

Run ended http://www.practical-magic.org/