God of Carnage

God of Carnage starts off slowly. There’s been an unpleasant incident where one young boy has pummeled another, and the two sets of parents have come together to discuss the ramifications. It’s a civilized affair where civilized conversation takes place over coffee and pastries. The tone shifts very quickly, and the veneer of civility falls away as drinking coffee gives way to drinking rum. Playwright Yasmina Reza is a master of creating likeably unlikeable characters, and the cast of this production (Stephanie Mason, Frank MacLean, Michael Taylor and Ellen Oldford) do a wonderful job with her complicated characters. Each actor has a chance to shine as they spark off one another’s anger and petty grievances. It’s a play that centres on a conflict that has no real winners, but it makes for an edifying and entertaining exploration of marriage and parenthood. -Kate Watson