Yasmina Reza's dramedy, God of Carnage, is the funniest farce seen on Broadway since Lend Me A Tenor. Two couples meet to figure out what to do -- the son of one couple hit the son of the other couple in the mouth with a stick. Two great farceurs, Hope Davis, whose takes and reactions are subtle and brilliantly hilarious, and Marcia Gay Harden, who can leap from gentility to hyper-fury in a split second, fuel the conflict that develops, and Jeff Daniels' cell phone-obsessed manipulator is a gem.
James Gandolfini is perfect as the working-class slob of a husband. Reza's point/counterpoint, contrasting allegro and andante, is theatrically amazing, and they don't make better comedy directors than Matthew Warchus.
The odd set by Mark Thompson, with a wall of cracked concrete and a huge splash of red, somehow works with and fits the underlying theme of the play: the inevitable changes and conflicts inherent in marriage. Thompson's costumes are just right, perfectly suiting each character. Subtle lighting by Hugh Vanstone enhances all, especially at the finale. God of Carnage should win for ensemble cast, for best comedy, and for outrageousness in one "Never Before Seen On Broadway" scene by Hope Davis.
Previews:
February 28, 2009
Opened:
March 22, 2009
Ended:
open run
Country:
USA
State:
New York
City:
New York
Company/Producers:
Robert Fox, David Pugh & Dafydd Rogers, Stuart Thompson, Scott Rudin, The Shubert Organization
Theater Type:
Broadway
Theater:
Bernard B. Jacobs
Theater Address:
242 West 45th Street
Website:
godofcarnage.com
Running Time:
90 min
Genre:
Comedy
Director:
Matthew Warchus
Review:
Cast:
James Gandolfini, Marcia Gay Harden, Jeff Daniels, Hope Davis.
Technical:
Auth: Yasmina Reza, Transl: Christopher Hampton. Dir: Matthew Warchus. Set/Cost: Mark Thompson; Light: Hugh Vanstone; Sound: Simon Baker & Chris Cronin; Music: Gary Yershon.
Critic:
Richmond Shepard
Date Reviewed:
March 2009
