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Maximum "Carnage"
The Unicorn Theatre, in conjunction with Kansas City Actors Theatre and UMKC Theatre, present "God of Carnage," Yasmina Reza’s Tony Award-winning play. Opening in Kansas City weeks before Roman Polanski’s film adaption, the stage production should not be missed.
Under the direction of Mark Robbins, God of Carnage magnifies the idiosyncratic behavior of two couples as they attempt to resolve a schoolyard fight between their children. What begins as an obligatory, polite social interaction quickly deteriorates into incivility and irrational, inebriated insults for all involved.
Within the first 15 minutes, the inciting event is forgotten by the audience; sides are taken and assuredly you find yourself rooting on of these couples to maim each other or at the very least craft a well-worded insult.
Meet the Novaks, Veronica (Cinnamon Schultz) an eccentric bleeding heart and Michael (Brian Paulette) a cynical pragmatist. This real-life married couple has an infectious energy that drives each scene with fits of tangential dialogue. Playing opposite of the Novaks are the Raleighs; Annette (Melinda McCrary) has an air of rigid aristocracy and her husband Alan (John Rensenhouse) exudes a masculine pomposity. Of course these archetypes are torn to shreds as the discussion ensues, becoming less and less about resolution.
Liquor is shared among the agitated families eventually spurring exaggerated spousal assaults onstage while invoking uproarious laughter from the audience. The play becomes a shrewd reminder to audiences that facades are just as quickly destroyed as they are built. The performers play it up, careful not to cross the line into the realm of melodrama.
From the sound to the costuming, the production succeeds with the ambitious design, the majority created by UMKC Theatre graduate students. In particular, the players make a well-choreographed entrance onto Jordan Jonata’s high contrast set, to Radiohead’s “National Anthem”, allowing the audience a glimpse of the ensuing conflict facilitated by Brandon Clark’s clever lighting design.
Clocking in just under the 90-minute mark the hurried dialogue and bombastic action flows as effortlessly as the liquor in a social comedy that is anything but polite.
REVIEW:
Unicorn Theatre with Kansas City Actors Theatre in partnership with UMKC Theatre
God of Carnage
Unicorn Theatre
October 22–November 13, 2011 (Reviewed October 25)
3828 Main St, Kansas City, MO
For tickets call (816) 531-PLAY or online at www.unicorntheatre.org
Top Photo: God of Carnage cast (Photo by Cynthia Levin)
Film, Theatre Contributor
Calli Parker studied film production and English at the University of Missouri-Kansas City. After working on various projects in Kansas City, she relocated to Los Angeles where she served as a production manager and assistant director on short and feature films. Currently residing in Kansas City, Calli continues to collaborate with the talented filmmakers and artists of the emerging arts community.
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KC Events this week and beyond
Looking for something to do this weekend? Click here for the KC Events calendar of theatre, classical music, dance and jazz events through 2011. Highlights of this week's classical music and dance offerings are in Don Dagenais' "City Classics." For current Theatre listings visit Victor Wishna's "City Stage." Enjoy!
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