UK Theatre Network

God of Carnage by Yasmina Reza

Reviewed at Milton Keynes Theatre by Catherine Brian on Tuesday 24^th March 2009

I was expecting an uproariously hilarious evening, given that God of Carnage has just won the 2009 Olivier for Best New Comedy, albeit for its West End run with a different cast. 

God of Carnage is a one act situation comedy.  The situation is two sets of parents meeting in one of their apartments in order to discuss one of the couple’s sons being hit by the other couple’s son.  A believable situation.  However, the comedy seemed to be based on the extreme personalities of the couples and for me, those personalities weren’t believable, therefore, for me, the comedy didn’t work.  It was a mildly amusing evening with one or two occasions to laugh out loud.

Roger Allam and Lia Williams play Michel and Veronique Vallon, whilst Richard E Grant and Serena Evans play Alain and Annette Reille.  The performances were good, in that the four actors were totally in character – albeit I didn’t find the written characters they were playing believable – and worked well together, I’m sure getting as much as was possible out of the material.

There were extreme devices added into the story for comic effect.  I didn’t find them funny.  I don’t really appreciate going to the theatre to watch projectile vomiting.  I see nothing amusing in it.
 I can’t see the comedy in someone not being able to survive a few minutes without their mobile phone. Maybe it’s me? Maybe they are funny things, and I have no sense of humour.  But looking around the auditorium, I couldn’t find anyone who was in stitches laughing.

The set was minimal – it looked rather dwarfed on the Milton Keynes Theatre stage – a sofa, a couple of chairs, a coffee table and a sideboard with a piece flown in for the back wall of the room.  The costume, lighting and props were all fine – in fact, everything was good, except the writing wasn’t that funny.

I have sat through some hilarious performances over the last few years – “Noises Off” had people literally roaring with laughter, “Eurobeat, Not Eurovision”, although technically a musical, was the funniest thing I have seen in years and almost the whole audience was crying with laughter – literally tears - so therefore, I expected the winner of this years’ Olivier to have the same effect on me.  It didn’t.

Would I recommend you to go and see this? Well, if you are a fan of any of the actors, or the writer, or are studying comedy, or acting, then yes, as it is performed well and amuses.  If you are going out in order to cheer yourself up and have a really funny night out at the theatre – go and see the local am-drams doing Ayckbourn, you’ll have much more fun.

God of Carnage played Milton Keynes Theatre from 24^th to 28^th March 2009.  www.miltonkeynestheatre.com.  Box Office: 0871 297 5454 (bkg fee).

Milton Keynes was the last date in the current UK tour, however, God of Carnage is currently playing on Broadway, www.godofcarnage.com with what looks to be a fabulous cast.  As I say, maybe it’s me - certainly there are superb actors and creative teams working on this play.  I would have thought it would be worth going to see the Broadway production simply for the quality of the actors.  And you never know you might even enjoy yourself!

Reviewed by Catherine Brian on Tuesday 24th March 2009 at Milton Keynes Theatre.