God of Carnage, the Tony Award® winning play by French playwright Yasmina Reza, has arrived in Atlanta. This production represents the first time God of Carnage has been performed by an all-African American cast. This tag team tongue-lashing between married couples Michael and Veronica Novak (played by Keith Randolph Smith and Jasmine Guy) versus Alan and Annette Raleigh (Geoffrey Darnell Williams and Crystal Fox) is funny and offers some intriguing dialogue.
Their sons are playmates. One son calls the other a snitch and knocks his tooth out. The Novaks invite the Raleighs over to hash things out civilly. The banter remains positive until a snide comment is made about the Novak’s signature family dish, clafouti.
As the bons mots ensue, the parents reveal their dual personas and their fairytale lives collide with their reality. The broadminded and philosophical parents prove they can actually be irrational and won’t take responsibility for it. It’s their duplicity that makes this 75-minute play so witty. Don’t drift off into your thoughts because the team members switch sides and that’s the best part.
Michael, the wholesale company owner; Veronica,the writer and art lover; Alan, the astute attorney; and Veronica, the wealth manager; disappear and each become human revealing their insecurities and regrets.
This is an excellent production.
–yvette caslin
Performances are Tuesday through Thursday at 7:30 p.m., Fridays at 8 p.m., Saturdays at 2:30 p.m. and 8 p.m., and Sundays at 2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., Jan. 11 to Jan. 29, 2012 on the Alliance Stage.Tickets range from $25-$50 and are available at The Woodruff Arts Center Box Office, by calling 404.733.5000 or visiting online at www.alliancetheatre.org/carnage.
