The God of Carnage

Synopsis

What happens when two sets of parents meet up to deal with the unruly behaviour of their children? A calm and rational debate between grown-ups about the need to teach kids how to behave properly? Or a hysterical night of name-calling, tantrums and tears before bedtime? Boys will be boys, but the adults are usually worse - much worse.

Our Review:

1 October 2012

Yasmina Reza writes plays that are short, sharp and witty and God of Carnage is no exception.

She usually starts with a very simple idea but it is how the characters react to this idea or more importantly how they react to each other that make her plays so riveting and entertaining.

The play starts unassumingly. Parents of a young boy have been invited round to another set of parents as there appears to have been an ‘incident’ at school. The four parents begin with all the trappings of good and reasonable behaviour. Determined to be sensible they will be adult about the whole thing; the four will part amicably and the issue will have been resolved to the benefit of all. But of course this is drama and although the situation and the characters are real enough all will NOT be resolved amicably.

The foretaste of what is to come is deliciously displayed in the unspoken prologue; chairs are re-arranged and the tulips are moved ten inches to t...

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