‘God of Carnage’ comes to San José

By Noel Montagano | Special to The Tico Times

The Little Theater Group of Costa Rica once again brings a Broadway hit to the stage at the Laurence Olivier Theatre. Opening on April 26 and running for two weekends, “God of Carnage,” written by Yasmina Reza and the winner of the Tony award for Best Play in 2009, will come to life in the hands of some of the LTG’s best known actors.

Director Noel Montagano and an incredible cast, Susan Liang, Tom Humes, Lisa DeFuso and Chicago import Jim Kissane are sure to bring a high level of professionalism to this comedy and fill the evening with laughs.

The play takes place in a modern-day Brooklyn loft apartment, where an 11-year-old has whacked another kid in the mouth. Both sets of parents meet to alternatively apologize, assess blame, work out consequences and throw their neuroses in each other’s faces.

The son of Alan, a big shot lawyer for pharmaceutical companies, and Annette, a wealth manager, hit the other child with a large stick, which broke two incisors and exposed a nerve. The son of Veronica, a cultural anthropologist of sorts, author and art fanatic, and Michael, a self-made seller of domestic items, would not let the other boy play in his “gang,” which initiated the quarrel.

The two sets of parents attempt to civilly and amicably discuss the ramifications and punishments associated with the incident. The hell that breaks out is amusing partly because the two teams not only go at each other, but at times they also switch sides. It can be partner against partner, or boys against girls, without an ounce of introspection or admission of responsibility on either side.

The LTG production of God of Carnage will run about 90 minutes, and the show will be staged from April 26-May 5, with 7:30 p.m. performances on Fridays and Saturdays and 2:30 p.m. matinees on Sundays. The Laurence Olivier Theatre is on Av. 2, Ca. 28. For reservations: 8858-1446 or visit www.littletheatregroup.org.