Experimenting with the Virtual Epic (Minnesota Playlist)
Walking Shadow Theatre Company presents "Beowulf: a virtual performance"
Review by Michelle Weiss | April 4, 2020
Three weeks into self-quarantine and I finally tuned in for my first virtual production: Beowulf. This one-man show, produced by Walking Shadow Theatre Company, was written by Charlie Bethel and performed by Co-Artistic Director John Heimbuch. As one of our oldest stories, Beowulf has been translated and adapted countless times. Even with this iterative background, this particular retelling via modern technology and social media was highly experimental.
This adventure tale is one of courage, victory, defeat, and the wisdom that can come with great power. With high energy, Heimbuch leads us into the world of the Geat warrior Beowulf as he comes to the aid of Hrothgar, king of the Danes, to take on the monster Grendel who has afflicted Hrothgar’s people. Beowulf defeats Grendel and then must also pursue Grendel’s mother, who seeks vengeance for the death of her son. In a cavalcade of “gore and glory,” Beowulf sinks through a lake of monsters to discover Grendel’s mother and destroy her in the depths of her cavern. He is rewarded by Hrothgar for these valiant conquests and, following his triumphs, Beowulf rises to the throne of the Geats. His last battle in life comes much later, when he faces a dragon and, ultimately, his death.
Heimbuch’s skilled performance as our storyteller was as vibrant as it could be through a screen. His shifts between narration and character dialogue provided a thorough image of the scenes, while his varied and full use of his body and hands served to beckon us into the room. The fluctuation in his volume and slight playful asides into a more modern narration at moments, compared to his customary epic style, kept 150 people engaged with this story from the comfort of their living rooms. While the scene and lighting was clearly makeshift, Heimbuch noted that this story was designed to be told anywhere. Live dramaturgy provided by Sarah Heller in the comments along the way provided thoughtful insights and helpful modern phraseology.
