Director Karen Azenberg calls \u201cGod of Carnage\u201d \u201cone of those plays that has a terrifying mix of comedy and reality.\u201d<\/p>\n
Winner of the 2009 Tony Award for Best Play and the Olivier Award for Best Comedy, \u201cGod of Carnage\u201d follows the story of two couples who have come together to make amends after a violent altercation between their two 11-year-old boys on the playground at school.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is a pretty realistic portrayal of a certain segment of society which yields a humorous and thought-provoking result and leaves us all asking ourselves if we are as civilized as we think we are,\u201d Azenberg said.<\/p>\n
As the current artistic director of Pioneer Theatre Co. in Salt Lake City, Azenberg is excited to make her Aspen debut this summer. Despite this being her first summer at Theatre Aspen, she has known producing director Jed Bernstein since they were kids.<\/p>\n
\u201cI find it fascinating that two kids from the Upper West Side of New York City are running theaters in the mountains,\u201d said Azenberg, former president of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society. \u201cFor me, the cast is perfect. All four of them are perfect for this play. They are smart, funny and are completely dedicated to finding everything they can to make this production a great experience for the Theatre Aspen audiences.\u201d<\/p>\n
Most recently, Azenberg directed Sting\u2019s \u201cThe Last Ship\u201d \u2014 an original musical with music and lyrics by Sting.<\/p>\n
\u201cSting generously allowed us to rework some of the show and he came to Salt Lake City to see it,\u201d Azenberg said.<\/p>\n
Joan Hess (playing the character of Veronica) is back for her sixth season at Theatre Aspen. Being the eighth of nine children, Hess watched her older siblings perform in plays and musicals throughout her childhood.<\/p>\n
\u201cI guess it was pretty obvious what I would do for my life\u2019s work. I\u2019m very fortunate to be able to do what I love and hopefully make an impact on others,\u201d Hess said.<\/p>\n
With only four actors in the show, the cast is extremely close-knit.<\/p>\n
\u201cThese incredible actors are seasoned, fun, generous, supportive, trustworthy and they crack me up on a daily basis,\u201d Hess said. \u201cI love working with these three talented actors who are all willing to play, as well as take the gloves off and get messy. Under the guidance of our great director, Karen Azenberg, this will be unlike any play I\u2019ve ever tackled before.\u201d<\/p>\n
Torsten Hillhouse plays the character of Michael \u2014 the father of the victim child.<\/p>\n
\u201cI absolutely can relate to Michael, as I do with any character I play \u2014 otherwise I\u2019d be too detached from it,\u201d he said. \u201cMichael is tricky though because he displays a lot of odious behaviors which doesn\u2019t feel like me, but that\u2019s the challenge. You have to embrace the warts of your character and leave the judging to the audience.\u201d<\/p>\n
Hillhouse has been acting his whole life but never envisioned himself becoming a professional actor until after college.<\/p>\n
\u201cI thought I\u2019d follow in my dad\u2019s footsteps and become a lawyer. Oh well, too late now. Sorry, dad!\u201d Hillhouse said. \u201cThe cast of \u2018God of Carnage\u2019 is so much fun to work with. Everyone is always game to jump in and figure things out but always with a sense of humor. We spend half the day cracking each other up. Oftentimes to the jargon of our director. Come prepared to wince in self-reflection and to laugh in relief.\u201d<\/p>\n
Azenberg is finding unique pleasures in her Theatre Aspen debut, both onstage and off.<\/p>\n
\u201cI have known about Theatre Aspen for years and am thrilled I get a chance to be a part of it this season,\u201d she said. \u201cThere aren\u2019t too many other theaters where a bear and her three cubs walk across the rehearsal studio parking lot.\u201d<\/p>\n