Kill B: The Epilogue

Final for a Stage Combat Class

Another review here puts it together in more words for me. Some fun nostalgia connecting to the Kill Bill memories of my youth, but not enough to base an entirety of a performance on it.

A Worthy Epilogue

I don't think I've seen the source material since a year after it hit the DVD market, but you get everything you really need to know in this, admittedly shorter than I'd prefer, outing. While I'll agree with other reviewers statements that the fight choreo was simpler than one might expect from the creators of Combat Chess, I think it served the story well enough and wasn't a deal breaker for me. The returning villains were well portrayed and owned the stage when they were present. Good fun and higher energy than a number of shows I've seen, which helps keep the day moving. Worth a watch.

Very nicely done!

I haven't seen the Kill Bill movies, but I'm aware enough of them to enjoy this epilogue story. I thought this show was really well done, with a thoughtful story, terrific performances, great sound choices (sometimes a little loud for the dialogue), and a pretty complicated but well executed fight sequence.

Specters & Sequels

In the dimly lit world of Quentin Tarantino's universe, where revenge is a dish best served cold, emerges "Kill B: The Epilogue" - a stage sequel that dances on the blade's edge between satire and reverence. Stepping into the dojo of the 2023 Minnesota Fringe Festival, Six Elements delivers a tale that dives deeper than the katana's thrust, slicing through themes of generational trauma and the dark entanglements of manipulative men. The whistle of Hattori Hanzo steel fills the room as the women-led cast, emboldened with fierce determination, takes center stage. Their prowess in stage combat, reminiscent of the Deadly Viper Assassination Squad, is palpable. It's clear: these women aren't here to play, they're here to tell a story. The acting? High-caliber, a bullet straight from Budd's shotgun. You can feel the room charged with the same intensity Beatrix Kiddo had when she crossed names off her list. Yet, no tale of vengeance is without its scars. Some tech hiccups make their way in, like an enemy lurking in the shadows, muffling the dialogue with overpowering music. And just as you're getting settled, ready for another chapter, the saga concludes. It's a bit on the shorter side, leaving you yearning for more, much like our bride's thirst for revenge. Still, "Kill B: The Epilogue" is more than just a continuation; it's a reflection, a call to arms, a quest for redemption. Will it end in vengeance or find its path to redemption?

What a load of fun

There was so much packed into this production from the setting, to the music choices and the fight planning. I went in curious and left satisfied. A must see!

I Agree with Luke Harbur

I was going to write my own review but everything Luke wrote sums up my thoughts. I admit I was entertained, but did not need to pay $19.

Left Wanting More

This show has a fantastic cast that was underutilized. It clocked in at about 35 minutes and I might have left a bit grumpy if I hadn't gotten in with my artist pass. There's a great big fight scene that was the highlight of the show, some costumes that pay homage to the source material, actual furniture (an apparent trend emerging in things that I find exciting this year), a half-basket of Easter eggs (including a fish sculpture named Emilio, RIP), and a script that otherwise focuses on answering questions the audience hadn't really thought to ask and bringing back the dead in confusing, unexplained ways. Chunks of dialogue were completely lost in the sound cues and everything needed a bit more room to breathe, including the audience in the front row - some of those weapons got close! In a short show, there was definitely the opportunity to give us a bit more. If nothing else, just add in some more of that incredible combat that we all love from Six Elements Theater. This would probably be a good one to add to your schedule if the show immediately following is one at a further off venue - Phoenix, Strike, or Crane. You'll have time for the commute and can still fill a slot. There were a couple of good belly laughs, too. NOTE: I have friends involved in this production.

Fell a little short....still entertaining!

I guess I wanted more here. More combat staging. Maybe comedy. The show was too serious to take seriously. I also wanted blood!

Epic Fight Sequence

The story was great, but holy cow, the fight scene was amaze-balls! I love the idea of what happens *after* the Kill Bill movies.

Maybe I'm slicing too hard and missed too much.

This is from seeing show #1. In one sentence: watch a stage combat class try recreating one of Tarantino’s action movie master pieces. In three sentences: I would not recommend attending this show if you haven’t seen the Kill Bill series and if you haven't watched it recently. I haven't seen it recently . . . but even from my "ah ha" moments, I couldn't unsee beginner to mid-level combat students putting on a show to capitalize on a brand name, trying to tap into the series’ nostalgia and relatability but frequently missing the mark other than a handful of times. As the Fringe continues the show deserves its four other chances for improvement, as the foundation of the work feels strong and can only grow.

Better Than The Source Material!

I didn't know what to expect going to this show, other than I am a fan of the original movies and a fan of some of the folks in it. What I was met with was filled with spectacular performances, emotional story lines and holy shit, someone going through a table! Kudos to the writer, for they wrote a superior story that puts Tarantino to shame. MUST GO SEE

Killin’ B

This is my 2nd favorite movie of all time so there was no way that I was going to miss this! Excellent choices all around but the writing was almost as though Q Tarantino wrote it himself!

What did this have to do with Kill Bill?

I'm not convinced the writers or director have seen a Tarantino film, because they sloppily tried to emulate the style but missed the entire mark. There are beats of the story that just don't make sense, such as a sudden change in motivation after a 20 second conversation with the person the main character was out to kill. The Beatrix role delivered her lines like a school play, not in the quasi-western tone of the character in cannon. I also don't think the writers know what satire is? Anyways, there was some good with the play. Nikki managed to monologue and convey some good grit. The actors playing Sophie and Elle had good costumes and played their villains well, it seemed like those two may have had some prior martial arts experience. The actor who played Bill was enjoyable, and managed to capture the cadence of David Carradine in his speech. The goons did a good job with what was probably a short time frame to learn complex choreography.

I Wanted More (but appreciated what was there)

Grounded in some truly wonderful acting, especially (but certainly not only) from Faith Finn as Bambi Kiddo, the show description makes a lot of big promises that the script just isn’t given the time to fully follow through on. Everything from queer identity to generational trauma to abusive power dynamics are touched on, but in an only 35-minute show, I’m left wanting a deeper dive. The fights are numerous and, honestly, a little under-paced and under-performed for what I typically expect from 6 Elements and Mike Lubke… which isn’t to say that there aren’t some fantastic moments and brutal-looking hits and wrecks. Overall: This show leaves some to be desired, but has fantastic bones. I want to see Six Elements tackle it show again with more time and resources.