Review: GOD OF CARNAGE at Backyard Renaissance

Playing through March 25th

David Ellenstein Named Artistic Director & Bill Kerlin Named Managing Director of Laguna Playhouse

Backyard Renaissance pulls no punches with their current production of GOD OF CARNAGE. Two couples have come together to resolve a fight between their children, but it quickly devolves from polite pretense to a delightfully chaotic and comedic confrontation as the gloves start to come off. GOD OF CARNAGE from Backyard Renaissance is playing at 10th Avenue Arts Center through March 25th.

The Novaks, Veronica (Jessica John), and Michael (MJ Sieber) have invited the Raleighs, Annette (Keiko Green) and Alan (Francis Gercke) over to their apartment to discuss a skirmish between their 11-year-old sons Henry and Benjamin, which led to Henry losing some teeth.

Both couples try to find some common ground, make small talk, and give each other backstory into their lives, but it's not too long before with a few well-placed remarks they drop the polite poker faces and start to show their true colors. While they do disagree about how to approach the fight and the ramifications with their sons, it is really a story about a hampster being let out of its cage which seems to be the moment it all truly starts going downhill.

Alan is pompous and his cell phone rings incessantly, calls that he insists on taking every single time. Annette keeps her annoyance at the entire situation (and her husband) tightly controlled until she literally cannot hold it in any longer. Veronica is self-righteous, and while she and Michael may be better at outwardly playing the compassionate and caring couple, Michael is seething under these phony and overly polite social constructs.

David Ellenstein Named Artistic Director & Bill Kerlin Named Managing Director of Laguna Playhouse

In real life the couples are actually married, Jessica John and Francis Gercke, and Keiko Green and MJ Seiber, each playing against their spouse in the show. As an ensemble the performances are excellent, and as the fighting starts to grow, and the characters start switching sides and ganging up on each other, it is equally as entertaining to watch each new pair fighting as it is to watch those on the sidelines egging them on.

Along with the performances of the cast, this production is so good due to the direction by Rob Lutfy, who has proven before to have a real gift for finding the funny in and heightening the dark farcical insanity. If it didn't have a cast as cohesive and talented as this one under the direction of a pro like Lufty, this show can be a brutal slog. Instead, this production is a fast-paced dark comedy that will leave you laughing.

The set by Yi-Cchien Lee is both a lovely New York apartment that has a soft floor cover reminiscent of a shaggy carpet, or the padding in a playground, and is boxed in like a (hampster) cage or if you were watching wrestling on television. Lighting by Chirs Rynne along with sound design and fight choreography by George Ye bring everything together. The costume design by Jessica John Gercke tells you everything you need to know about these characters.

To say any more would give too much away since part of the pleasure of experiencing this rollicking rumble is what they each say and do as this meeting goes fully off the rails. This a fast, furious, and funny show that is definitely worth seeing.

How To Get Tickets

GOD OF CARNAGE from Backyard Renaissance is playing at 10th Avenue Arts Center through March 25th. For ticket and showtime information go to www.backyardrenaissance.com

Photo credit: The cast of GOD OF CARNAGE at Backyard Renaissance, photo courtesy of Daren Scott




RELATED STORIES - San Diego

Review: THE SAN DIEGO SYMPHONY PERFORMS TWO CLASSICS AND A WORLD PREMIERE At San Diego's Rady Shell

What did our critic think of THE SAN DIEGO SYMPHONY PERFORMS TWO CLASSICS AND A WORLD PREMIERE at San Diego's Rady Shell?

Review: SINGIN' IN THE RAIN at New Village Arts will have you tapping your feet and wishing for some rain

The classic musical SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN comes to the New Village Arts stage with singing, and dancing, and will make you wish for a little rain in the forecast.  You can join Lockwood, Lamont, and the whole gang through July 2nd.

Review: THE CHRONICLES OF KALKI at MOXIE Theatre

THE CHRONICLES OF KALKI making its San Diego premiere through June 4th at MOXIE Theatre is a comic book-inspired tale of two friends who are figuring out who they are, navigating school, and possibly may have manifested the return of a god set on returning the cosmic order of good and evil through any means necessary.  At least they paid attention in religious studies class, right?

Anson Williams Will Co-Emcee Concert of Hope With Grammy Winner, Ben Harper

The annual Doors of Change Concert of Hope, stars 3-time Grammy winner Ben Harper, with Co-Emcee, Anson Williams (Warren “Potsie” Webber/Happy Days). Doors of Change has done an amazing job raising millions for homeless youth and securing support from members of the entertainment community.


Videos


#repshow# in #getregions.name[i]# Musica en la Plaza: Fercho
California Center for the Arts, Escondido (6/30-6/30)
#repshow# in #getregions.name[i]# La Lucha
La Jolla Playhouse (5/11-6/04)
#repshow# in #getregions.name[i]# Grace for President
Casa del Prado Theatre (6/30-7/09)
#repshow# in #getregions.name[i]# Welcome to Sleepy Hollow
Oceanside Theatre Company (10/06-10/29)
#repshow# in #getregions.name[i]# Xanadu
San Diego Musical Theatre (5/05-6/04)PHOTOS
#repshow# in #getregions.name[i]# "Silkworms", a world premiere by local playwright Connie Terwilliger
Lamplighters Community Theatre (6/02-6/18)
#repshow# in #getregions.name[i]# How To Be Japanese: Your Normal Is Not My Normal
Marie Hitchcock Puppet Theatre (5/18-5/28)VIDEOS
#repshow# in #getregions.name[i]# Center Cabaret: S'Wonderful, S'Marvelous: The Songs of Gershwin
California Center for the Arts, Escondido (6/24-6/25)
#repshow# in #getregions.name[i]# Buy high quality undetectable counterfeit
Buy high quality undetectable counterfeit (11/22-12/25)
#repshow# in #getregions.name[i]# Head Over Heels
Diversionary Theatre (5/25-6/18)
VIEW ALL SHOWS  ADD A SHOW  

Recommended For You