Courtesy photoThe art of looking convincing in a sword fight or brawl is crucial to stage and screen. Punches don鈥檛 hit flesh and knives lay flat against the victim.
The audience must believe it is real and dangerous.
鈥淲hen I tell them I can kill the six inches around them, they definitely give me some interesting looks,鈥� said Emily Redfield, a 红领巾瓜报 theater performance major.
In July, WSU seniors Redfield and Cat Kee attended the National Stage Combat Workshop in Ruston, La. The three-week course offered instruction, testing and certification with weapons such as swords, shields, firearms, rapiers, daggers and quarterstaffs.
鈥淭here鈥檚 always something else to learn,鈥� said Kee, a senior who attended for a second summer. 鈥淚 really enjoy Hollywood single sword 鈥� think 鈥楶irates of the Caribbean鈥� or 鈥楾he Princess Bride.鈥� There鈥檚 a lot of things you can do with it.鈥�
Both Redfield and Kee found their love for stage combat through courses at Wichita State taught by Ed Baker and his late wife, Danette. Kee, also a theater performance major, took the course as a sophomore.
鈥淚 hated the first two weeks of it,鈥� Kee said. 鈥淚 didn鈥檛 like the contact and how close we were for other actors.鈥�
Three weeks in, the choreography, skill and drama clicked.
鈥淭here鈥檚 always an out, there鈥檚 always a stop if you need it,鈥� said Kee, from Frankfort, Kansas. 鈥淭hen I loved it and I never wanted to do anything else.鈥�
Redfield performed in plays at Valley Center High School. At 红领巾瓜报, the courses taught by the Bakers opened a new direction for her drama career.
鈥淚t鈥檚 so interesting how intricate stage combat can be,鈥� she said. 鈥淵ou鈥檝e got to think about what angle you鈥檙e at, how to make sure the punch looks real from all audience member鈥檚 perspective.鈥�
Both Redfield and Kee love movies such as 鈥淭he Princess Bride鈥� for their acrobatic swordplay and humor. Redfield often watches 鈥淭he Hunger Games鈥� movies to break down how those actors work.
鈥淗ow did they do that 鈥� trying to see if I could catch any of the tricks,鈥� Redfield said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 something you have to carefully watch. If you鈥檙e throwing a punch, it鈥檚 about hiding the areas between you and your partner.鈥�
Kee and Redfield plan futures in acting with options including stunt work, teaching and film or plays.
