Please arrive 10 to 15 mins prior to your scheduled audition, and allow a further 20 mins for your actual audition. 

God Of Carnage

​Cast Details

Book An Audition

God Of Carnage  (Drama/Dark comedy)
By Yasmina Reza, translated by Christopher Hampton
Directed by: Garry Thomas
On stage Thurs to Sat 14 to 16 and Wed to Sat 20 to 23 July
 
The Play
Winner of the 2009 Tony Award for Best Play, ‘God of Carnage’ is the story of two married couples who meet for the first time shortly after their respective sons have a nasty schoolyard tangle. Michael and Veronica, whose son’s teeth were knocked out with a stick, invite Alan and Annette, whose son did the knocking, to their home to settle matters such as who will pay for new teeth. But any attempt at having a civilized discussion as to whose child is responsible for the fight, and how the parents may have influenced such destructive behavior, quickly devolves into finger-pointing, name-calling, stomping around and throwing things. And that’s before they break out the alcohol!

Fast, furious and funny, the script goes for every kind of laugh in the book, from one-liners to sight gags and physical comedy, plus humor both deadpan and gross-out. Hilarious as it is, the comedy here is definitely dark, with serious moments throughout and an ending that’s not exactly heart-warming.

The Characters
All four characters need to be between early 30’s and mid/late-40’s in appearance (they have 11 year old sons) 

Veronica Houllie
At first, she seems like the most benevolent of the bunch. Instead of resorting to litigation regarding her son’s injury, she believes that they can all come to an agreement about how amends for the attack can be made. Of the four, Veronica exhibits the strongest desire for harmony. But … her flaws lie in her overly judgmental nature. She wants to instil a sense of shame in Alan and Annette Reille, hoping they will, in turn, instil a deep sense of regret in their son.

Michael Houllie
At first, Michael seems eager to create peace between the two boys and perhaps even bond with the Reilles. He offers them food and drink. He is quick to agree with the Reilles, even making light of the violence, commenting on how he was a leader of his own gang during his childhood. As the conversation progresses, Michael reveals his uncouth nature. He makes racial slurs and denounces child-raising as a wasteful, gruelling experience. His most controversial action (which takes place before the play) has to do with his daughter's pet hamster. Because of his fear of rodents, Michel released the hamster in the streets of the city.

Annette Reille
Annette is constantly on the brink of a panic attack. In fact, she vomits twice during the course of the play!  Like Veronica, she wants resolution and believes at first that communication can improve the situation between the two boys. Unfortunately, the pressures of motherhood and household have eroded her self-confidence. Annette feels abandoned by her husband who is eternally preoccupied with work. Annette is the most physically destructive of the four characters. In additional to ruining her husband's new phone, she intentionally smashes the vase at the end of the play. (And her vomit incident spoils some of Veronica’s books and magazines, but that was accidental.)

Alan Reille
Alan might be the most stereotypical character of the group in that he is modelled after other not-so-good lawyers from countless other stories. He is the most openly rude because he frequently interrupts their meeting by talking on his cell phone.  He claims that his son is a savage and doesn't see any point in trying to change him. He seems the most sexist of the two men, often implying that women have a host of limitations. But on the other hand, Alan is in some ways the most honest of the characters.