Silver Spring Stage Presents GOD OF CARNAGE, Now thru 10/11

Silver Spring Stage presents the community theater premiere of God of Carnage by Yasmina Rez, translated by Christopher Hampton, directed by Adam R. Adkins and produced by Bob Scott, the witty and entertaining depiction of two sets of parents that turn a simple playground fight between their kids into a full-blown brawl. God of Carnage will perform weekends tonight, September 19 to October 11, 2014.

Silver Spring Stage is located in the Woodmoor Shopping Center, lower level (next to the CVS) at Colesville Road and University Boulevard. Ticket prices are $20 for adults and $18 for seniors and students. Performances are Friday and Saturday at 8:00 PM and Sundays September 28 and October 5 at 2:00 PM. Tickets can be purchased at www.ssstage.org. Information is also available by calling (301) 593-6036.

God of Carnage thrilled audiences in its premieres from Zurich to Paris to London to Broadway in 2008 and 2009 sweeping top honors along the way, including the Olivier and Tony Awards for best play. This is familiar territory for Yasmina Rez and her translator partner Christopher Hampton as her breakthrough play Art did similarly. Ms. Reza has developed a brilliant formula that seems fresh each time she invents her smart and savvy scenarios. She take her basic premise - seen in Art and Life x 3 - smart, a little smug upper middle class people with strong opinions and then stirs them up over a simple conflict. What is always stunning and surprising is her ability to delve past the intellectual surface of human being to their true animal, savage instincts. This journey, always done in about 90 minutes, prompts laughter that audiences can't resist. Who can't enjoy intelligent people reduced to sophisticated slapstick? God of Carnage will not fail to deliver.

Before the start of God of Carnage, two 11-year-old children, Benjamin and Henry, get involved in argument because Henry refuses to let Benjamin join his 'gang'. Benjamin knocks out two of Henry's teeth with a stick. That night, their parents meet to discuss the matter. Benjamin's father, Alan (Andrew Greenleaf), is a lawyer who is never off his cell phone. Benjamin's mother, Annette (Alyssa Sanders) is in "wealth management" (her husband's wealth, to be precise), and consistently wears good shoes. Henry's father, Michael (Bob Harbaum), is a self-made wholesaler whose mother is not well. Michael's wife, Veronica (Lauren Kieler), is writing a book about Darfur. As the evening goes on, polite conversation gets heated and every possible topic - misogyny, racial prejudice, homophobia - become fuel for their irrational, blistering and uproarious arguments. God of Carnage will startle your senses, stimulate your thinking and heave up hilarity.

Silver Spring Stage continues its 2014-2015 season with Earth and Sky (Oct. 31-Nov. 22), Holiday show to be named (Dec. 12-21), Orson's Shadow (Jan. 9-31), 33 Variations (Feb. 27-Mar. 21),The Language Archive (Apr. 10-May 2), On the Razzle (May 29-June 20), and Venus in Fur (July 10-Aug. 1).

Silver Spring Stage has provided quality, affordable theatre for over 40 years. We are an all-volunteer, non- profit organization and appreciate any contribution to enable us to offer excellent and entertaining productions. Thank you for your interest and support of Silver Spring Stage. All programs at Silver Spring Stage are made possible in part by a grant from the Maryland State Arts Council.

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