Venice Theatre’s 2014-2015 Stage II season opens with God of Carnage
2009 Tony Winner is an “uproariously funny” comedy of manners … without the manners
(Venice, Florida) Venice Theatre will launch its 2014-2015 Stage II season on Nov. 13 with the sophisticated comedy, God of Carnage. The play will open in the Pinkerton Theatre on Thursday, Nov. 13 and run through Sunday, Nov. 30, 2014. Performances are at 8 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays and 2 p.m. on Sundays with the exception of the Saturday show on Nov. 29 which is at 2 p.m. There is no performance on Thanksgiving. Tickets are $28 for adults, $13-$15 for students and are on sale now at the theatre’s box office located at 140 W. Tampa Ave. in Venice, online at www.venicestage.com or by phone at 941-488-1115.
In Christopher Hampton’s English translation of Yasmina Reza’s French play, the action is set in present-day Brooklyn. The matter at hand is a playground altercation between 11-year-old boys. Their parents meet to politely discuss the situation. As is fitting with a comedy of manners, the politeness is only on the surface. All it takes are a few passive-aggressive comments, a constantly ringing cell phone and some upper-shelf rum for the parents to disintegrate into infantile behavior.
Big-name actors Jeff Daniels, Hope Davis, James Gandolfini and Marcia Gay Harden starred in the original Broadway production. Their performances and Reza’s “magnificently constructed” script earned the 2009 Tony Award for best play and universally positive reviews. Variety called the show, “Elegant, acerbic and entertainingly fueled on pure bile.” New York Newsday described it as “brutally entertaining.”
At Venice Theatre, Peter Ivanov directs veteran actors Matt McCord, Laurie Colton, Neil Kasanofsky and Amity Hoffman in this wild ride of a show that Ben Brantley of the New York Times compared to the high culture of Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? and the low comedy of The Honeymooners.
Again, God of Carnage runs in the Pinkerton Theatre Nov. 13-30, 2014. Venice Theatre is located at 140 W. Tampa Ave. Box office hours are Monday through Friday; 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.; Saturdays from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. and one hour before all performances.
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God of Carnage
By Yasmina Reza
Translated by Christopher Hampton
Production Team
Director – Peter Ivanov
Stage Manager – Nicholas O’Connor
Scenic Designer – Brian Freeman
Costume Designer – Stephanie Gift
Lighting Designer – Matt McClure
Sound Designer – Dorian Boyd
The Cast
Alan Raleigh – Matt McCord
Annette Raleigh – Laurie Colton
Michael Novak – Neil Kasanofsky
Veronica Novak – Amity Hoffman-Dertouzos
Attached photos (Credit Renee McVety)
- L-R: Matt McCord and Laurie Colton as the Raleighs. Amity Hoffman-Dertouzos and Neal Kasanofsky as the Novaks
- L-R: Matt McCord and Laurie Colton as the Raleighs. Amity Hoffman-Dertouzos and Neal Kasanofsky as the Novaks
140 W. Tampa Ave
Venice, FL 34285
Tickets: 941-488-1115
Venice Theatre’s mission is making a dramatic impact on all stages of life. The second-largest out of 10,000 community theatres in the United States, it is located at 140 W. Tampa Ave .on the island in Venice, FL. Its MainStage offers seating for 432 patrons and features musicals, plays, concerts and special events. Its Yvonne Pinkerton Theatre seats 90 patrons and is home to the theatre’s “Generations”, Stage II and Cabaret Series. In addition to providing entertainment to the community, Venice Theatre has a wide range of education and outreach programs for children and adults.
