Dog of Carnage

Surprising, moving and insanely compelling! This play lures you in with a simple concept (a courtroom battle over the custody of a dog) and then kicks you in the gut. Two magnificent performances highlighted by sharp and smart direction. ... full review

Chaotic as hell, yet focused like a homing missile, Dog of Carnage is a dissection of a failed relationship that starts with a custody battle over a dog and ends up... well, let's just say it's not really about the dog, is it? Much like a real life custody battle, the dog is but a ball in a cruel game of tennis, a living vessel through which the two opposing parties launder their grievances and excuses, each volley aimed squarely at a gaping, raw wound.... full review

This is my first time seeing a Benjamin Schwartz play. It will NOT be my last! The play title alone piqued my interest given my heavy admiration for Yasmina Reza's award-winning play, God of Carnage. I predict greatness for this two-handed, serio-comedy as well. The display of talent is apparent from the start and continues on throughout the duration of this hour-long play. With questions about commitment, mortality, and the human experience at the forefront, the audience serves as members of a jury, or at the very least, people in the courtroom. They get to witness a break-up that isn't a break-up. Do not let the title fool you, Dog of Carnage is not all cute puppy dogs chasing squirrels. Its relevance to today is spot on and will l... full review

Incredibly nuanced writing and terrific performances by both actors. Deftly directed. ... full review

Benjamin Schwartz and company hit one out of the park.... full review

In a word, Enthralling. There wasn't a moment that I spent not transported into the world established effortlessly by Spencer Weitzel and Callie Ott, either laughing, gasping, or biting back tears. Every aspect of the play was incredible, and they combined into an experience that more than exceeded the sum of its parts. The comedy hit over and over relentlessly, but never at the expensive of the deeper meaning, which was the real heart of the play. However, if there was one aspect that stole the show, it was Spencer and Callie's acting. The show is an emotional rollercoaster that demands extreme physicality, emotional range, and tenderness, sometimes back to back with bitterness. Throughout it all, the actors both somehow managed to be ch... full review

This show is one of the best in the festival! Incredibly well-acted, well written, and well-directed! Callie Ott is a star, Spencer Weitzel is undeniable. Very hard hitting! I forgot I was watching a play. I highly recommend!... full review

Still thinking about this one days later. Benjamin Schwartz has written something truly special, a sharp, funny, emotionally resonant piece that sneaks up on you with its depth. What begins as a custody battle over a dog unfolds into a beautifully layered exploration of identity, belonging, and the heartbreaking complexity of love. You laugh, you ache, you question yourself. I saw the very first performance and haven’t stopped thinking about it. Schwartz is not new to this craft, but the brilliance of his voice deserves far more recognition than it has yet received. Here’s hoping that changes, soon! ... full review

Coming in hot with a clever inversion of the title “God of Carnage” comes DOG OF CARNAGE. Hands down Ben Schwartz‘s best work to date. I love that it comes in swinging hard with comedic punches, and then drives home the other side of the emotional spectrum. Yeah, you won’t be ready for this twist. Really, there’s just so much quality work here… Where to start… The actors? Yes, the actors. Holy crap. They sell the hell out of that script… Every syllable… Every moment is turned so way up to 11 that it’s impossible to become drowsy in that theater or remotely indifferent to the proceedings. It has been written and directed in a way that guarantees your attention and milks the most from these two powerhouses. The scenes are inventively choppy... full review

Start with two complex, confused human beings. Add attraction, romance, hope. (That is, make them desperately in love with {addicted to?} each other.) Now hand them an insoluble dilemma (or two), and fling the resulting goulash unceremoniously into a tiny airless room. Bake on high for sixty minutes, and watch insanity expand like a defective sourdough. Now, that's my kind of dish. But it's time to switch metaphors, lest my reader become bored. Who needs the tidy ballet of some arch-plot when you can dance the timeless, twisted tarantella of two half-found souls staggering their way through the maze of relationship itself? The dialogue in "Dog of Carnage" is simultaneously hilarious, deep, and natural, a stunning achi... full review