A COMEDY OF MANNERS...WITHOUT THE MANNERS

Yasmina Reza's elegant, acerbic and witty satire God of Carnage is the hottest ticket on Broadway today, having recently added the Tony award for Best Play to the Olivier Award for Best Comedy it won after last year's sell-out West End run. Now, it's Auckland's turn to experience the mayhem as Auckland Theatre Company's production starring Miranda Harcourt, Peter Elliott, Hera Dunleavy and Dave Fane cuts up the Maidment stage from July 23.

With her razor sharp wit and profound understanding of middle class hypocrisy, Reza's sophisticated brand of satire slices through the fragile pretentions of the educated elite.

While her 1995 play Art savaged the meeting point between modern art and branding in a the context of male friendship, God of Carnage peels back the thin veneer of diplomatic civility between two politically correct couples who meet to resolve a playground misdemeanor involving their sons and a large stick. As the night rolls on war is declared on politeness and allegiances constantly shift bringing all the adults into conflict with one another.

"By the end of the evening Liberté, Egalité and especially Fraternaité are knocked for six as this 'réunion sérieuse' disintegrates into a wildly funny slanging match. It's a city-chic and intelligent comedy - very French, very stylish and very, very funny," says the director Colin McColl.  

Miranda Harcourt returns to Auckland to play the role of Veronique Vallon, a writer and art historian working on a book about the conflict in Dafur. Lauded as an actress and director for her work in theatre, film, television and radio, Harcourt was last seen onstage with Auckland Theatre Company in SKYLIGHT.

Playing opposite Harcourt as Veronique's salesman made good husband Michel, is Dave Fane. Renowned for his work with the Naked Samoans, Fane is a familiar face to Auckland Theatre Company's audience having starred in NIU SILA and more recently co-directed Where We Once Belonged with Colin McColl.

Auckland Theatre Company stalwarts Peter Elliott and Hera Dunleavy round off the cast as the high powered and legally minded parents of Ferdinand, who stands accused of knocking fellow classmate Bruno's front teeth out after he's blocked from joining a playground gang.

"Metro magazine is delighted to be the premier sponsor of God of Carnage" says Metro editor Bevan Rapson. "We've heard wonderful things about the play and can't wait to see what Colin McColl and his formidable cast do with it. GOD OF CARNAGE is entertaining, but also thought-provoking. That's a mix Metro also aims to deliver every issue, so this is a fitting partnership.

"Be sure to pick up our annual 'Best Schools' issue on sale Monday (July 6). And look out for the full-page photo of the Carnage cast."

God of Carnage brings the sophistication and chic of contemporary French theatre to Auckland. Tickets can be purchased from the Maidment Theatre on 308 2383 or www.atc.co.nz.
 

God of Carnage by Yasmina Reza

Cast:
Peter Elliot Alain Reille
Hera Dunleavy Annette Reille
Dave Fane Michel Vallon
Miranda Harcourt Veronique Vallon

Writer: Yasmina Reza
Direction: Colin McColl
Designers: Rachael Walker, Nik Janiurek

Auckland, Maidment Theatre, 23 July - 15 August,
Mon (27 July only) - Wed, 6.30pm
Thur - Sat, 8pm
Sun Afternoons, 4pm
Sat Matinee, 8 August, 2pm

Book: 308-2383 or www.atc.co.nz

Tags: Auckland Theatre Company