GOD OF CARNAGE. To 14 June.
London.
God Of Carnage
by Yasmina Reza
Gielgud Theatre To 14 June 2008.
Mon – Sat 8pm Mat Wed & Sat 3pm.
Runs 1hr 40min No interval.
Tickets: 020 7494 5065.
www.gielgud-theatre.com
Review: Harriet Davis 29 March.
Fine cast preside over falling-apart.
God Of Carnage is an energetic but flawed attack on middle class approaches to parenting. Alain and Annette’s eleven-year-old offspring (aptly named Ferdinand) has attacked a fellow classmate, whose parents have piously invited them over to put things right. In the stout belief that rationalism is the way forward (Ferdinand should apologise to Bruno – and mean it), Veronique and her husband embark on a fruitless moral crusade.
All this takes place among the silk cushions and floral arrangements of a wealthy Parisian home, in a tense atmosphere of forced civility. A few rums later, and niceties are all but dispensed with; the wives turn on their husbands, and then on each other. Reza does a good job with the battle of the sexes stuff, which reveals both husbands to be less than passionate about their sons’ affairs, bonding amicably over their own misspent youths. It quickly becomes apparent that for all their talk of commitment and understanding, neither mother is able to admit to their sons’ considerable flaws, or make any headway in resolving the unfortunate incident.
For the first forty minutes, Ralph Fiennes steals the show. Lawyer Alain largely ignores his host, and makes long, loud phone calls to a client. When he does chip in, it’s with an air of supercilious disinterest, until his long-suffering wife (the excellent Tamsin Gregg) finally loses the plot. In fact, everyone loses the plot, and there are long bouts of tears and shouting from all parties.
While the play’s title implies histrionics, it still seems something of a cop-out when the characters reveal all through alcohol. The exhaustive finale is oddly old fashioned, reminiscent of both Edward Albee and Alan Ayckbourn (not the first time Reza’s work has been compared to the latter).
Having said all this, it is very funny, and there are some outstanding one-liners. The satirical elements are razor-sharp, and Reza is an expert at exposing hypocrisy. Add to this a stellar cast and slick direction from Matthew Warchus, and it’s a difficult not to get swept away.
Alain Reille: Ralph Fiennes
Annette Reille: Tamsin Greig
Veronique Vallon: Janet McTeer
Michel Vallon: Ken Stott
Director: Matthew Warchus
Designer: Mark Thompson
Lighting: Hugh Vanstone
Sound: Simon Barker
Music: Gary Yershon
2008-05-23 14:24:56