Mask & Mirror Community Theatre will present Yasmina Reza’s provocative God of Carnage in the continuation of its edgy Unmasked Series on July 12-28, 2024. Directed by Roman P. Martinez, the black comedy will be produced at The Tualatin Heritage Center, 8700 SW Sweek Drive, Tualatin, Oregon. Performance times are Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 3:00 p.m.
Audience caveat: The script includes strong language (sexism, racial prejudice, homophobia) and themes of violence among children.
Originally produced in French, Reza’s intriguing Tony award-winning script was translated into English by Christopher Hampton. The play enjoyed critical acclaim in London’s West End and New York’s Broadway productions, the latter of which starred the original cast of Jeff Daniels, James Gandolfini, Marcia Gay Harden, and Hope Davis. It ran for 24 previews and 452 regular productions, later breaking box office records in an eight-week run in Los Angeles’ Ahmanson Theatre with the original Broadway cast reprising their roles.
In God of Carnage, two couples meet one fateful night to discuss their 11-year-old sons’ fight in a public park, which resulted in one child’s two broken teeth. As the night progresses, politeness wears thin, smiles fade, accusations fly, alliances break, and civility shatters. As the evening devolves into chaos, the parents degenerate into irrational children themselves, with no controversial topic off-limits as insults are traded.
Martinez’s cast features seasoned performers Michael Hoeft as attorney Alan Raleigh, Amanda Clark as society maven Annette Raleigh, Shelley Aisner as novelist Veronica Novak, and Stefan Feuerherdt as self-made wholesaler Michael Novak.
Martinez’s crew includes Nicolette Pullen as Assistant Director, Jodi Johnson as Stage Manager, Cindy Zimmerman as Set Dresser, and Steve Hotaling as Light/Sound Design and Operator.
Martinez enthusiastically states, “I have been wanting to direct Yasmina Reza’s God of Carnage for quite some time. Enamored by the dialogue and story, I was inspired to bring this play to life for an audience. My amazing cast and crew are excited to put on a spectacular show, so this will be a summer blockbuster you do not want to miss! While I have been a filmmaker for over 15 years, writing, producing and directing both shorts and features, this will be the first play I am directing. Excited to bring what I have learned in motion pictures, I hope to carry over my individual artistic eye to God of Carnage. Thank you, Mask & Mirror, for this wonderful opportunity!”
For tickets to God of Carnage and additional information, please visit www.maskandmirror.com. Season tickets for the upcoming 2024–2025 season will be available for purchase in July.
Mask & Mirror Community Theatre is a 501(c)3 non-profit performing company. Your support is very much appreciated. Additional information can be obtained by visiting www.maskandmirror.com.
