In May of 2002, Babes With Blades, and R&D Choreography's Fightshop staged a live chess match entitled "Combat Chess." We created a set up for the Match that went like this:

Prior to the match, tension had been brewing in the Chicago stage combat community for several months. The two largest stage combat troupes in the city, Babes With Blades and R&D Choreography's Fightshop, slid rapidly from friendly rivalry to thinly veiled insults, and rumors of backstage trash-talk abounded. No explanation was readily available for this change in tone – no one could pinpoint any direct action by any member of either troupe that was the root cause of the bad blood. Like many feuds, its origins may be lost completely, but the heat was definitely on as accusations of unprofessionalism and slurs against the prowess and abilities of each organization multiplied daily.

The conflict came to a head during a round-table discussion on stage combat hosted by the Women's Theatre Alliance, attended by Babes' founder Dawn 'Sam' Alden and R&D founders David Gregory and Richard Gilbert. With increasingly ugly mutterings and whisperings thickening in the room, Alden decided to clear the air and the gauntlet was thrown down – the Babes challenged the Fightshop to a public demonstration of stage combat expertise to prove once and for all who is the most proficient stage combat troupe in town.

Thus the stage was set for Combat Chess - a live-action chess match with each troupe providing actors to play the pieces and a demonstration of stage combat acumen to mark each capture on the board. Chicago critic Mary Shen Barnidge jumped at the chance to oversee the proceedings as judge, and she recruited prestigious local actor Kelly Van Kirk to serve as a referee.

Finally the night arrived, and with the moral high ground on the line and tempers barely held in check, the Babes With Blades and R&D's Fightshop gathered to fight for honor and reputation.

(All of the above is, of course, a set up and COMPLETELY UNTRUE. We love the Fightshop crew and had a ball working with them!)

Here's the whole cast, ready to rumble!

All photos ©2002 Johnny Knight Photography. Copies are available on his website at http://www.johnnyknightphoto.com.