God Of Carnage

It is hard for me to believe how, in the course of a single year, I went from avoiding theater at all costs to seeing every show playing on Broadway.

A few factors contributed to my life-long avoidance of theater, not least of which is my extreme height.  At six feet four inches tall, I have always felt uncomfortable in old theaters with their limited legroom, and have always felt guilty about blocking other people’s views.  Let’s face it, no one likes to see a giant sit right in front of him or her in a theater–that experience frustrates even me, and I am one of those giants!

But then, in March of this year, I grudgingly went with my wife to see God of Carnage on Broadway.  For the first time in many years, my discomfort and apprehension about my surroundings simply melted away, and all I could focus on was the mounting tension and scathing dialogue on the stage.  In fact, my only problem was that I could not figure out which of the four characters to focus on, each with a seemingly endless supply of facial expressions and mannerisms to match the twists and turns of the story.

From there, I went to other plays as diverse as Mary Stuart to Reasons to be Pretty, finally experienced Broadway classics like The Phantom of the Opera, and enjoyed musicals featuring everything from soaring arias to hip hop dances.  I discovered that my experience at God of Carnage had opened the door for me, but was not unique–at each of these shows I worried little about my surroundings and simply immersed myself in the wonderful characters and stories unfolding in front of me.

By the end of the summer, I realized with amazement that I had seen every show playing on Broadway.  With a new perspective and love of theater thanks to my experience at God of Carnage, I now have every expectation that I will maintain that distinction for a long time to come.

Adam Hundley – Dorchester, MA