rOcKS @ 'God of Carnage'

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 3/25/09 at 4:53pm

In short, I loved the performances, didn't love the writing.

Maybe the problem lies in Hampton's translation or Reza's original text (I'm going to be honest, I don't know which) but I felt like it was a little slight. It introduces a lot of big ideas but never really covers them fully. The premise is great and the characters are clearly defined and developed but the issues that the play brings up are numerous and none of them are really completely fleshed out. The best way to say it is that there really isn't a plot.

These two couples get together to talk about their sons' argument in a park and it all goes downhill from there. Like I said, a great premise, but it's not completely realized (I wouldn't have minded if this was a two and a half hour long show or even two hours with no intermission in order to flesh out the issues introduced a bit more). Don't get me wrong, it's not a bad text but it's just not great. The humor in it couldn't be more razor-sharp.

That said, the performances are fantastic. Jeff Daniels does a great job playing an asshole and Hope Davis has a huge challenge of making her character's arc believable in just an hour and a half and handles it with gusto. James Gandolfini started off as my favorite performer (restrained, but clearly with some underlying issues bursting at the seams) but I felt like he was a little awkward when his character needed to let loose. It was like he was catching his breath when he didn't have to speak and when he did, he screamed his lines. This is a performance I'd love to see again later in the show's run to see how he improves; he's still very good in the role. His chemistry with Marcia Gay Harden is fantastic.

I had the opposite problem with Harden than I did with Gandolfini. She started off a bit too stoic and robotic (maybe it was her character too) but when she ripped into the material, she didn't leave a piece of the scenery un-chewed (almost literally). She is hysterical and her final monologue on the phone was really both funny and touching at the same time.

The star of the show, for me, was Matthew Warchus' direction. Flawless, flawless, flawless. I disliked BOEING-BOEING last season and wasn't a huge fan of his work on it but here, he hits the bull's eye. He manages to bring just the right mix of the organic and the absurd. The most blatantly Tony-worthy direction since AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY.

I loved the set design and the way that the bright red slowly morphed into a deep purple; brilliant.

Overall, I liked it. It's bitingly funny and it features four very strong performances. If the material were a bit more fully-developed, this would be a must-see. But, I still say go see it for sure. If for no other reason than to see four great actors duke it out for an hour and a half.

*** out of ****
Updated On: 3/25/09 at 04:53 PM

[PiraguaGuy2]

Posted: 3/25/09 at 4:56pm

Any gunshots?

=)

Just kidding. I'm glad you enjoyed it. Do you think any of them are going to be nominated for a Tony?

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 3/25/09 at 5:02pm

Ha!

Um, based on the reviews (and what I thought), I would say Gay Harden is the strongest bet. But the Best Actress in a Play race is very tight.

It depends on how they campaign the performers...will they all be leads? If so, it's doubtful that all four will get nominated but if they make one "couple" featured, it could happen.

The play race this year is so tight and I just hope these four are remembered when the nominations come out. Or at least one of them...

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 3/26/09 at 5:37pm

I'm glad to hear you enjoyed the show. Even if the producers petitioned two of the cast members to be Featured (as of right now, all four are above the title, so they're all automatically Leading), I would imagine that the Administration Committee would surely deny the requests. All four of the actors have equal stage time (they're all on stage for practically the entire show).

A few years ago, the producers of the GLENGARRY GLEN ROSS revival petitioned the Administration Committee to have Liev Schreiber and Alan Alda placed in Leading, as all of the men were below the title. The committee denied the request. Three of the actors ended up getting nominated in the Featured slot, and Schreiber won.

Of course this season is MUCH more chock full of plays than that season. I imagine that Harden will get a nomination, as she was singled out in many of the reviews, not to mention the fact that she is so brilliantly playing a role so unlike the roles people are used to seeing her play. I'd even call it a breakthrough comedic performance for her. Also, the play will still be open come Tony time, which gives her even more of a chance of getting nominated.

Best Play looks like it's going to be a race between DIVIDING THE ESTATE, GOD OF CARNAGE, and IRENA'S VOW. ESTATE received raves, plus there's the sentimental factor that theatre legend Horton Foote passed away and this was his last Broadway play, but the show has been closed since January. I imagine that if Leading Actress is between Harden and Tovah Feldshuh, whichever one wins, the other actress' play will win Best Play.

[theatreguy]

Posted: 3/26/09 at 5:55pm

Just a clarification on the GLENGARRY story, the entire cast was billed above the title so the producers petitioned to have all except Alda and Schreiber be in the featured category. The Tony people decided that they should all be featured.

As for GOD OF CARNAGE, if they're all in the leading category I could only see Harden and maybe Gandolfini being nominated. But if they're featured, I think it'd be possible that all four could get nominations (though I only see Harden having a strong chance at actually winning).

I would also say Leading Actress is definitely not going to be between just Harden (if she's placed there) and Feldshuh. Janet McTeer and Harriet Walter will be very strong contenders as well as Carla Gugino and Angela Lansbury, though they could possibly go supporting as well.

As for GOD OF CRANAGE's Best Play chances, I would say they're very good at this point. The competition is down to DIVIDING THE ESTATE (which, as WannaBeAFoster mentioned, will be the sentimental favorite but also closed back in January) and REASONS TO BE PRETTY (which got good reviews Off-Broadway but it remains to be seen how it will be received on Broadway) as well as 33 VARIATIONS and IRENA'S VOW (both of which haven't exactly gotten rave reviews for the plays themselves, though their leading ladies have certainly been praised - and sometimes that's enough to get a nomination, if not the win).

[MiracleElixir]

Posted: 3/26/09 at 6:24pm

It would be ABSURD for Lansbury to go leading (and even more absurd for her to win). I know she's Lansbury, and we all bow down before her - blah, blah, blah - but she's in THREE scenes in a 2-hour, 45-minute show.

As for best play, I think it'll come down to GOD OF CARNAGE, GOLDA'S BALCONY, REASONS TO BE PRETTY, DIVIDING THE ESTATE, with GoC ultimately taking it. Updated On: 3/26/09 at 06:24 PM

[theatreguy]

Posted: 3/26/09 at 6:52pm

Golda's Balcony?

I agree it would be absurd for Lansbury to go leading, but she's a legend and she does get the final bow with Rupert. I wouldn't be surprised if the Blithe Spirit producers didn't petition for any category changes.

[MiracleElixir]

Posted: 3/26/09 at 6:59pm

Hahaha, Freudian slip! The woman needs to stop headlining plays about women who possess things!

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 3/26/09 at 11:50pm

If it's:
REASONS TO BE PRETTY
GOD OF CARNAGE
IRENA'S VOW
DIVIDING THE ESTATE

(Which it will be, IMO)

It should be a very close race. I didn't see ESTATE (and regret it) but I'd imagine that CARNAGE would be the natural best bet. Although I enjoyed REASONS and IRENA quite a bit more.

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 10/8/09 at 11:09pm

I saw it again tonight. And liked it more the second time around. I was closer to the stage this time and that added a lot to the experience; I could see facial expressions better, etc.

The cast is even better than they were when I saw them in March but this is still not a great play. It's being given a great production but it's by no means a brilliant piece of writing. It is, however, a lot of fun and I can't wait to see who they cast in the roles once this quartet leaves. REASONS still deserved the Tony in my mind.