BWW Reviews: The Rep's Hilarious and Harrowing Production of GOD OF CARNAGE

How would you react as a parent if your ten year old son was smacked in the face with a stick with resulted in a fat lip and a couple of lost teeth? Would you be able to keep you cool? Would you just immediately contact the police or a lawyer and deal with it from that perspective? Well, I'm not sure how I would handle that type of situation, but playwright Yasmina Reza's God of Carnage (with a witty and intelligent adaptation by Christopher Hampton) provides a cautionary tale for any parent faced with just such a dilemma. The Repertory of St. Louis' current production is simply brilliant, showcasing incredible performances and smartly conceived direction. This is heady stuff that makes you laugh and think. I've written it a lot lately, but this is one that should not missed at any cost.

The Novak's, at least the wife Veronica, decide to take a civil approach to the aforementioned scenario, but find that civility is nearly impossible to maintain in the face of the smoldering differences that bubble up to the surface between the Novaks and the Raleighs, and even between the couples themselves. Neither husband shows much interest in attending this powwow, but Alan Raleigh is noticeably detached and reacts to the demands of his cellphone just as any point is about to be made. His wife, Annette, is so disturbed by the situation that she throws up a couple of times. Veronica is more concerned with the fact that the vomit lands on a rare art book, and her husband, at one point, confesses to being a happy neanderthal. This is fertile material for 90 minutes of nearly respectful combat, and draws applause from some of the character's actions from the audience on a number of occasions.

The entire cast is uniformly excellent, and especially well cast. Eva Kaminsky is perfect as the moderator who tries in vain to reign in her emotions as Veronica, and Susan Louise O'Connor shows great range as she turns from squeaky voiced complicity into a spitfire who's not above destroying a cell phone. Anthony Marble is bored and disinterested in anything but the potential lawsuit he's currently engaged in on his phone, but finds himself agreeing too often with the brutish comments laid down by Triney Sandoval's all too human Michael. There's really nothing good that can come from this as the evening progresses, and perhaps that's the lesson being taught here; the further we push our civility, the more the animal instincts seem to pop out.

Edward Stern's direction is focused and superb, guiding the actors through their paces with an expert's touch. Narelle Sissons has constructed and artfully designed set that comes off as the ideal New York apartment, with clean perfect lines you know will be disrupted. Gordon DeVinney's costumes are excellent fits for each character and Kirk Bookman and Steve O'Shea have done a marvelous job of lighting this production.

Every parent, or potential parent, should see God of Carnage. It's the kind of unnerving, yet engaging entertainment, that the Rep does so well. This hilarious and frightening production continues through November 6, 2011 at the Loretto-Hilton.

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