Culture

“God Of Carnage” To Open At Mid-Ohio Valley Players Theatre


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Yasmina Reza's 2009 Tony Award-winning play God of Carnage begins the first of a three-weekend run on April 25 at the Mid-Ohio Valley Players Theatre in Marietta.

The Broadway production began life in Paris in 2006, moved to London’s West End in 2008 with a translation by Christopher Hampton (Les Liaison Dangerous) and finally to New York City in 2009.

This MOVP production began life at The Charleston Stage Company under the direction of Geoffrey Coward, who is "very excited about having another shot at directing the play" with a totally new, local cast of actors.

Set in present-day Brooklyn, God of Carnage is the story of two married couples who meet for the first time shortly after their respective sons have a nasty schoolyard tangle. Michael and Veronica, whose son’s teeth were knocked out with a stick, invite Alan and Annette, whose son did the knocking, to their home to settle matters such as who will pay for new teeth.

But any attempt at having a civilized discussion about whose child is responsible for the fight, and how the parents may have influenced such destructive behavior, quickly devolves into finger-pointing, name-calling, stomping around and throwing things. And that’s before they break out the rum.

The Carnage cast includes Khalil Award winner R.J. Lowe, MOVP Best Actor Award-winner George Litman, Dawn Weidner (last seen as Eliza Gant in Look Homeward Angel) and newcomer Patricia Burkhammer.

The play is directed by Dr. Geoff Coward, with set design by Debbie Lawson, production designer and assistant director. Lawson has set up an artistic installation piece for the play in the Putnam Commons window display area (see below).

Performances are April 25-26, May 2-3 and 9-10 at 8 p.m. and May 4 at 3 p.m.  Tickets are $11 for adults, $9 for seniors and students and $6 for children under 17.

Tickets are available online at MidOhioValleyPlayers.org, Marty’s Print Shop on Third Street and the Marietta Convention and Visitors Bureau on Greene Street.

A special "buy one, get one free" ticket offer is available for opening night only. The box office opens two hours before show time.