She Kills Monsters

Although the audience never sees Qui Nguyen’s stage directions directly during performances, his use of slang and humorous, loose descriptions express his enthusiasm for Dungeons and Dragons. Taking into consideration the fact that any production of a play takes its cues from the details of the stage directions, how do Nguyen’s style and tone of stage directions add meaning to the play?

What role does nostalgia play in the creation of both the setting and the characters? How does it relate to Agnes’s view of the past and her memories?

What is the significance of the play’s real-world settings within 1990s Athens, Ohio, and what do they reveal about Agnes and Tilly’s lives? What do they suggest about public and private spaces? (Consider the role of the high school, Tilly’s bedroom, and the family’s home.)

How does the play depict role-playing games like Dungeons and Dragons? Are they pure escapism or are they intrinsically connected to the real world? Does playing the game mean something different to each character, or is there a shared significance? Examine at least two to three specific examples in your analysis.

The play revels in popular culture references and irreverent humor. What purpose do they have in the play? Do they ever seem flippant or inappropriate? What is the play saying about youth culture, the distinction between “high” and “low” culture, and identity?

The play’s structure relies on multiple layers of narration, including the narrator, Chuck’s interpretation, and Tilly’s original module. What is the function of all these voices? How do they connect with the multiple voices in New Landia that represent Tilly?

How does the play critique traditional gender roles? Do Miles and Chuck struggle to attain ideals of masculinity? Do Tilly and Agnes struggle to attain the ideals of femininity?

Since its publication, She Kills Monsters has been popular on high school and college campuses. What aspects of the play make it appealing to this age group?