The new show from the Pine Tree Players opens this week and it’s one that audiences will be talking about for a while to come!  God of Carnage is an award-winning play by Yasmina Reza that was turned into an award-winning movie.  After successful runs in Londan and Broadway, local audiences will get a chance to see it for themselves at the Canmore Miners’ Union Hall.

After seeing last night’s dress rehearsal I can safely say this is one of the best shows Pine Tree has staged since I started watching and being a part of them in 2002.  A meeting between two sets of parents over a schoolyard fight between their sons descends into chaos as their polite facades drop and cracks in their respective marriages and personalities begin to shine through. The four actors (Pam Milthorp, Iain Lock, Kristin Slagorsky, and Connor Ballantine) have all put a ton of work into rehearsing for this production and the effort really shows on stage, displaying a broad range of emotion and impeccable timing that does real justice to the strong source material.    It’s the kind of show that will make you laugh, gasp in shock, and leave a lasting impression for days after you leave the theatre.

I spoke with Jon Bjorgum about why he was drawn to direct this black comedy and his decision to stage it ‘in the round’ with audience members able to watch from all angles.

I can’t recommend the Pine Tree Players production of God of Carnage highly enough.  Go see it, you won’t be disappointed!  Pay-What-You-Can preview night is Wednesday, November 16th, with show November 18th – 20th and 24th – 26th.  Doors at 7 PM, curtain at 7:30 PM for all performances except November 20th which is a 2 PM matinee.  Typically, when word gets out that Pine Tree is staging a really strong show, tickets sell fast so get them while you can at Cafe Books, The Cellar Door, or online here.

Filed under: Canmore, God of Carnage, Pine Tree Players