Is there really such a thing as being neutral in a life-or-death civil war?

Maybe, if you live someplace where people sit around singing “Kumbaya.”

“A Terrible Beauty,” written and directed by Ara Barlieb, in its world premiere by the Crowded Kitchen Players, through March 15, Charles A Brown Ice House, Bethlehem, is a terse story set in Belfast, Ireland.

The March 12 performance was seen for this review.

The play pertains to a violent period of Irish-English history, beginning circa the Irish Civil War of 1922-1923, and foreshadowing Northern Ireland’s “The Troubles” (roughly 1968-1998).

In the real world where true believers have to kill their neighbors, the unbelievers, there is no room for the peacemakers who want to sit in their comfortable homes trying to get the lambs and the wolves to sit around the supper table and forget about The Troubles.

According to the program notes for “A Terrible Beauty,” this “is not a true story, in the sense that its characters are not meant to portray anyone who actually lived in Belfast in 1922, But, it is a faithful story in that everything that happens in this play is meant to recreate: the mood, place and time of what are called the ‘Belfast Pogroms.’”

The play’s title, “A Terrible Beauty” is a refrain from the poem “Easter, 1916” by W. B. Yeats: “All changed, changed utterly: / A terrible beauty is born.”

Trish Cipoletti (Eliza Gallagher) is spellbinding as the housewife and guardian of the family.

Her prescient prayer as she prepares the evening meal for the family is: “May the blessing of God’s earth be on you. / May he watch over you and keep you safe from harm.” Cippoletti shines in the lead role.

David Oswald (Owen Gallagher) is brilliant as the businessman who wants everyone to be a customer and to keep his family above the fray. He brings a patriarch’s convivial nature to the story as outsiders turn his warm, hospitable home into a vipers’ nest of menace.

Dan Ferry (Seamus O’Leary) brings an authenticity to the story with his mastery of accent, stage presence and intensity as a fugitive from vengeance.

Pamela McLean Wallace (Orlah) is delightful as patriarch Owen’s sister. She provides clever and unwanted advice to sister-in-law Eliza on how to prepare regional varieties of the same dish: mashed potatoes … Champs (with scallions) or Colcannon (with cabbage)?

Fiona Galligan Sweeney (Molly Sullivan) is believable as a young Protestant girl who wanders into a Catholic neighborhood: a mistake during “The Troubles.”

Sharon Ferry (Maimo) charms as a grandma who dotes on Aiden (Robert Tollinger), her grandson, who is growing into his own as a big and imposing family stalwart.

Mike Daniels (Peter) is a steadfast, convivial member of a middle-class Catholic family meeting undeserved danger where they least expect it.

Danny Black (Jude McGrath) comes across as a good fellow, one with whom you might quaff a pint and invite home to supper. He plays a welcome stranger who parries questions about his past and pedigree.

Daniel VanArsdale (Sean) personifies bumbling meanness as he dominates his scenes. Great job with the heavy stuff.

Jaeden Reppert (Brendan) is cold-hearted, short on small talk and ready to “finish what we came for.” Very scary.

Bruce F. Brown (Dixon) plays the older and presumably smarter thug. Calm, deliberate, but still a dominating menace.

Credit for the set and lighting goes to Barlieb.

Costumes are authentic to the time and credited to the cast.

McLean Wallace shares credit with Barlieb as co-producer of the play.

“A Terrible Beauty,” 7:30 p.m. March 12, 13, 14; 2 p.m. March 15, Crowded Kitchen Players, Charles A. Brown Ice House, 56 River St., Bethlehem. Tickets: 610-704-6974, https://ckplayers.com/