Unicorn "God of Carnage" review by timlovestheatre

Collaboration crucial to 'God of Carnage'

Rating: 5

God of Carnage

Unicorn Theatre

There is a great trend going on in nonprofit arts organizations. In order to survive the difficult economic times organizations are finding ways to collaborate and share the costs and blend their creative products. "God of Carnage", a collaboration between the Unicorn Theatre, the Kansas City Actors Theatre (KCAT), and UMKC Theatre is an excellent example of what happens when these elements are all working together smoothly.

The play was written by Yasmina Reza and translated from the French by Christopher Hampton. It focuses on two couples who meet to have a well-mannered discussion regarding a schoolyard fight between their sons. The results of the meeting involve some hysterical moments, tantrums, and tears-and the kids aren't even there!

When asked about her inspiration for the script, Reza told the "Los Angeles Times": "In the street, while returning from school with my son, I was talking to the mother of one of his classmates. Her son had suffered a broken tooth following a fight on the playground, and she said this to me: 'Do you realize: the parents haven't even called to apologize!' I immediately thought that there was an interesting theme here."  And indeed she was right.

Cynthia Levin, Unicorn producing artistic director, discovered that both the Unicorn and KCAT were interested in the show and after their successful collaboration with last year's "Seafarer" they were looking to work together again. "Carnage" seemed a perfect fit.

The play is under the direction of Mark Robbins, a KCAT founder and a familiar face for both theatre companies as well as around the city, who first put together a team of talented Kansas City actors. Fresh from the Kansas City Actors Theatre's acclaimed "Pinter Project" comes John Rensenhouse, Melinda McCrary, and Brian Paulette. In a strange example of art imitating life Cinnamon Schultz, Paulette's real-life wife was brought in to play his on-stage wife.

To write out all of the characters and theatres that these four local actors have played would require far more space than we can take here. The foursome worked very well together and kept a remarkable crispness to the lines and their delivery that was highly enjoyable.

Added into the mix of these two veteran companies is the energy and potential of graduate students from the UMKC Theatre. The Jerome Stage at the Unicorn is not the finest KC stage of its size. It can be an unforgiving space acoustically. Scenic designer (and recent UMKC grad) Jordan Janota does a great favor to the actors and the sound design by creating a virtual band shell with his modern curved room. Not only does the design assist in creating a sense of place through clean lines and sharp colors it enhanced the acoustics immensely! The un-miked actors were easy to hear even in the quietest of moments, which has not always been the case in this space.

Properties designers go mostly unnoticed; however, the set was dressed very well and at least one "prop-stunt" earns Kristin Yager and Matthew Mott kudos. Two more UMKC grad students to watch for! The lighting and sound designs by UMKC students Brandon J. Clark and Daniel C. Warneke were seamless and put to good use in a bit of innovative staging by Robbins.

"God of Carnage" runs at the Unicorn Theatre through November 13th which gives about a month for split sides to heal before Roman Polanski's film version "Carnage" hits movie houses on December 16th.