WHAT: Rus Blackwell, Suzanne O’Donnell, Anne Hering and Mark Ferrara will be the actors duking it out in “God of Carnage.”
The Tony Award-winning play makes its Central Florida debut Friday night, Oct. 15, in a production by Orlando Shakespeare Theater.
Mark Routhier will direct the play, which pits two high-strung couples against each other in a darkly comic 90-minute brawl.
Alan Raleigh (Blackwell) and his wife, Annette (O’Donnell), visit the apartment of Michael (Ferrara) and Veronica Novak (Hering) for what they believe will be a civilized discussion about a playground fight between their two sons. The meeting degenerates into irrational arguments and the loaded topics of misogyny, racial prejudice and homophobia. Insults fly, spouses turn on spouses and new alliances are created in what The New Yorker called “ninety minutes of sustained mayhem.”
Originally “Le Dieu du Carnage” in French, Yasmina Reza’s play was first produced in English in London in March 2008, when it won the Olivier Award for best new comedy. For its 2009 Broadway run, the play won the Tony, Outer Critics Circle and Drama League awards for best play.
A film adaptation, directed by Roman Polanski and starring Jodie Foster, John C. Reilly, Kate Winslet and Christoph Waltz, will go into wide release later this year.
WHAT ELSE: Opening night features a free preshow discussion with director Routhier and other members of the creative team from 7:15 to 7:45 p.m. for an informal discussion about the play. After the show, complimentary hors d’oeuvres will be served at a reception.
WHEN: 2 and 7 p.m. Wednesdays; 7 p.m. Thursdays; 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays; 2 p.m. Sundays; through Nov. 13.
WHERE: Lowndes Shakespeare Center, 812 E. Rollins St., Orlando
TICKETS: $15-$38; $10 student-rush tickets 30 minutes prior to show (with valid ID); military and students get $10 discounts off advance purchases; those under 30 pay $20 for any seat Oct. 21
CALL: 407-447-1700
ONLINE: orlandoshakes.org
