On Stage Soon: "God of Carnage"

   Here's a show that almost slipped past me - taking the stage weekend after next:

God of Carnage - presented by the Charleston Stage Company

WVSU Capitol Center Theater at 123 Summers Street 

Jan. 17-19 and Jan. 24-26

Before the play begins, two 11-year-old children get into an argument - Henry Novak refuses to let Benjamin Raleigh join his "gang." Benjamin knocks out two of Henry's teeth with a stick. The playground altercation brings their Brooklyn parents together to resolve the matter.

Benjamin's father, Alan, is a lawyer who is never off his cell phone. Benjamin's mother, Annette, is in "wealth management" - her husband's wealth, to be precise.

Henry's father, Michael, is a self-made wholesaler with an unwell mother. Michael's wife, Veronica, is writing a book about Darfur.

At first, diplomatic niceties reign, but as the meeting progresses and the rum flows, tensions emerge and the gloves come off, leaving the couples with more than just their liberal principles in tatters.

The Charleston Stage Company's production is directed by Geoff Coward. The small but talented cast includes:

Greg Harpold - Michael Novak

Bethany Cline - Veronica Novak

Rob Boone - Alan Raleigh

Kim Javins - Annette Raleigh

God of Carnage will grab the audience by the throat and be talked about for days. An audience should be warned that the language becomes explicit and could be offensive to some.

Tickets are $15 for Adults, $10 for Students and Seniors