THE BIZ : Stage Fight

I have no words,--My voice is in my sword

Those are fighting words, spoken by Macduff just before he parries with Macbeth and severs his head. It’s one of Shakespeare’s great fight scenes and it is rehearsed regularly at the Gascon Center for Stage Combat in Culver City.

The school, founded six years ago as part of the Westside Fencing Center, is a favorite of Hollywood fight choreographers searching for talent. To showcase the school’s two dozen students, Gascon stages fight performance nights that present historical and contemporary stage and film battles using broadswords, quarterstaffs, rapiers, daggers and whips.

Although Gascon’s four fight instructors teach historical accuracy, most choreographers want some “flash and dash,” says instructor Ted Katzoff. “The way in which a person fights reveals much about their character on stage and certainly in real life--but it’s all about creating illusions,” he adds.

Among the current warrior-wannabes is Geena Davis who Katzoff is teaching to wield a rapier, dagger and saber for “Cutthroat Island,” a pirate film set in 1650. The school also has taught swordplay to the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Robin Williams, Shelley Long, Keanu Reeves and Eric Roberts.

Actors who take Gascon’s courses say a good thrust and parry adds dimension to their work. “It used to be part of an actor’s training,” says T.J. Rotolo, 28, who has done extra work. “I like Shakespeare, so it seemed natural to do this. Plus, I can’t sing or dance, so this makes me more marketable.”