Overview
Synopsis
Winner of the 2009 Tony Award for Best Play, God of Carnage relates an evening in the lives of two couples, residents of a tony Brooklyn neighborhood, who meet to discuss a playground incident. Alan and Annette’s son hit Michael and Veronica’s son in the face with a stick, resulting in two broken teeth. The four of them agree to discuss the incident civilly, but, as the night wears on and drinks are imbibed, the polite veneer breaks down. The couples initially spar against each other, but the men gang up on the women and the spouses switch sides as the fighting continues. Reza’s play suggests that our civilized trappings do a poor job of hiding our venality and bile.
Show Information
- Book
- Yasmina Reza
- Category
- Play
- Age Guidance
- Thirteen Plus (PG-13)
- Number of Acts
- 1
- First Produced
- 2009
- Genres
- Drama, Dark Comedy
- Settings
- Unit/Single Set
- Time & Place
- brooklyn, new york, present day
- Cast Size
- small
- Licensor
- Dramatists Play Service
- Ideal For
- Community Theatre, Diverse Cast, Ensemble Cast, Mature Audiences, Regional Theatre, Small Cast, Includes Adult Characters
Context
God of Carnage is originally written by the French playwright Yasmina Reza and has been translated into English by Christopher Hampton. After the original French production was well-received in France, Hampton’s English translation found similar success on the West End. After a few tweaks to appeal to American audiences, the Broadway version opened in February 2009. That year it won the Tony award for Best Play and Best Director, and all four leads were nominated for Best Actor/Actress, with
to read the context for God of Carnage and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Plot
God of Carnage tells the story of two sets of parents who meet to discuss a playground altercation that left one boy with two broken teeth. Annette and Alan Raleigh are welcomed into the home of Veronica and Michael Novak, whose son Henry was attacked the previous evening by the Raleigh's son Benjamin.
The play opens with Veronica reading out the statement she and Michael have prepared. She then serves her guests homemade clafouti, a baked flan-like dessert, in an attempt to maintain a
to read the plot for God of Carnage and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Characters
| Name | Part Size | Gender | Vocal Part |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Lead |
Female |
Spoken |
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Lead |
Male |
Spoken |
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Lead |
Female |
Spoken |
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Lead |
Male |
Spoken |
Songs
A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.
Monologues
Scenes
Key Terms
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Videos
Quizzes
Themes, Symbols & Motifs
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Quote Analysis
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