God of Carnage Continues The Rep’s 45th Season

The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis (The Rep) presents God of Carnage by Yasmina Reza and translated by Christopher Hampton. This appallingly funny play will be performed on the Browning Mainstage of the Loretto-Hilton Center for the Performing Arts, 130 Edgar Road (on the campus of Webster University), Webster Groves, October 12 - November 6, 2011.

Curtain times are Tuesday at 7 pm; Wednesday-Friday at 8 pm; selected Wednesday matinees at 1:30 pm; Saturday matinees at 5 pm; selected Saturday nights at 9 pm; Sunday matinees at 2 pm; and selected Sunday evenings at 7 pm.

Ticket prices start at just $16 (previews) and $19 (regular performances). To purchase, visit The Rep Box Office, located inside the Loretto-Hilton Center, charge by phone by calling (314) 968-4925, or visit The Rep's Online Box Office at http://www.repstl.org.

Major sponsorship for this production is provided by the Mary Ranken Jordan and Ettie A. Jordan Charitable Foundation.

God of Carnage is a 90-minute thrill ride to the most dangerous place on earth: parenthood. After their children are involved in a playground brawl, Michael and Veronica Novak meet Alan and Annette Raleigh to sip espresso and politely discuss the matter. When the veneer of refined sophistication quickly cracks and their evening spins into chaos, the gloves come off and arguments become tantrums in a hilariously uncivilized free-for-all.

In this latest triumph from French playwright Yasmina Reza (Art), the passionate, emotional world of parenting shows us just what seemingly well-behaved adults are capable of. When threatened, these savvy parents become cornered beasts. The infantile antics of these supposedly sophisticated adults put their children's pranks to shame in this comedy of manners that has forgotten its manners.

God of Carnage was produced in March 2008 on London's West End and won the Laurence Olivier Award for Best New Comedy. Originally called Le Dieu du Carnage in French, it was translated by British playwright Christopher Hampton, who has translated most of Reza's plays into English. It also received critical acclaim on Broadway, playing for 476 performances and winning the Tony, Outer Critics Circle and Drama League awards for Best Play. A film adaptation, starring Jodie Foster, John C. Reilly, Kate Winslet and Christoph Waltz and directed by Roman Polanski, will be released in November 2011.

The Rep's production of God of Carnage is directed by Edward Stern (who last directed Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde). According to Stern, "Yasmina Reza explores the truth within all of us. Although she is a French playwright, she's writing about human behavior we can all relate to. Whether it's playing in Paris, New York or St. Louis, the story of two sets of parents who get together to discuss how their kids should get along after a fight is something everyone can understand even if you don't have kids. God of Carnage is as much a drama of hysterical proportions as it is a comedy with dramatic weight to it."

The cast of God of Carnage at The Rep is Eva Kaminsky as Veronica Novak, Anthony Marble as Alan Raleigh (last seen in Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde), Susan Louise O'Connor as Annette Raleigh and Triney Sandoval as Michael Novak (last seen in Crime and Punishment).

The creative staff also includes Narelle Sissons, set designer; Gordon DeVinney, costume designer; Kirk Bookman, co-lighting designer; Steve O'Shea, co-lighting designer; Glenn Dunn, stage manager; and Tony Dearing, assistant stage manager.

For more information about The Rep's production of God of Carnage including a guide introducing the characters, plot and background on the play; photos related to the production; and more, visit The Rep's comprehensive public website at http://www.repstl.org.

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