Last night was the press preview for God of Carnage at Ann Arbor’s Performance Network Theatre – the Michigan premiere that PNT co-produced with the Jewish Ensemble Theatre in West Bloomfield.
This is the kind of play we love to see at the Performance Network Theatre – which has something to do with its intimacy and everything to do with its habit of producing one excellent show after another.
As has been frequently observed, comedy is hard. This type of comedy – embarrassing, shocking, a bit dark and painfully human – is especially tricky. The cast of God of Carnage, under the direction of WSU’s Professor David Magidson, makes it look easy.
The story begins when two couples meet at one of their homes to discuss a playground altercation between their young children. The polite manners and faux parental concerns quickly dissolve like sugar into a glass of absinthe – with intoxicating results.
It starts off, as expected, with one couple taking jabs against the other. Then the men and the women pair up in a battle of the sexes. Next, the spouses start sparring with each other. Inevitably, God of Carnage plays out like a Big Time Wrestling tag-team event in which the players keep switching loyalties and we never know who’s going to body-slam whom. Add brilliant, biting dialog, and you’ve got the formula. The ‘moral,’ if there is one, has something to do with parenting, and how ill-equipped most adults are to teach their kids right from wrong when they can’t agree themselves.
Joseph Albright and Sarab Kamoo play the Novaks; Phil Powers and Suzanne Regan play the Raleighs. Theatre students should deconstruct this production to see how comedy works. Each gifted actor has his/her own moment to shine; more importantly, each generously sets up the others with what they need to keep the audience laughing.
Weekly performances are Thursdays at 7:30 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 p.m. and Sundays at 2:00 p.m., with 3:00 p.m. Saturday matinees on January 28 and February 11.
Tickets are priced at $22 - $41and can be ordered at the Performance Network Box Office at 734-663-0681, online, or by visiting the Performance Network Theatre (120 East Huron St., Ann Arbor, 48104) Monday-Saturday 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. or one hour before a performance. God of Carnage contains adult language and themes and is not suitable for those under age 17.
Comments