The explosive comedy God of Carnage begins with two couples (Alan and Annette, Veronica and Michael) meeting to discuss an incident that has occurred between their eleven-year-old sons. The two couples start off cordial, but quickly become contentious as their differing priorities, personalities, and values come to light.
In God of Carnage, much of the play's humor comes not only from the two couples facing off against each other, but also with their own partners. Many plays and films have addressed various dynamics between and within couples -- with both dramatic and comedic results.
Take a look at eight famous couples in four memorable productions as God of Carnage gets ready to deliver "first class" (The New York Times) and "scabrously funny" (USA Today) send-up of parenting, marriage and manners on the Quadracci Powerhouse stage.
Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?
By Edward Albee
Edward Albee’s masterpiece is considered to be the seminal play about couples and their dynamics. After a university faculty party, older couple Martha and George unravel their disintegrating and volatile relationship when a younger couple, Honey and Nick, are hosted as guests.
Disgraced
By Ayad Akhtar
In this play by Milwaukee native and frequent collaborator of Milwaukee Rep, Ayad Akhtar, two couples meet for dinner and confront various aspects of their identities and beliefs. Not only does the play highlight the dynamics between the couples, but also the sociopolitical environment and hidden biases that come to light during their evening together.
Dinner with Friends
By Donald Margulies
In this play, two couples who have been friends for years, confront the meaning of marriage amidst the impending divorce of one of the pairs. The play follows not only the evening in which the breakup is revealed, but also the various moments during the twelve years prior since the divorcing couple was introduced to each other.
Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice
A film by Paul Marzursky and Larry Tucker; musical adapted by Jonathan Marc Sherman, Duncan Sheik, and Amanda Green (Also a short-lived TV show in 1973)
After a revelatory weekend at a retreat, Bob and Carol return home to share their new openness with their more conservative friends, Ted and Alice. As the play continues, Bob and Carol explore other sexual relationships amidst the judgment and eventual acceptance of their long-time friends.
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Amy Morton, Tracy Letts, Madison Dirks, and Carrie Coon in the 2012 Broadway production of Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? Photo credit: Sara Krulwich, The New York Times. Janie Brookshire, Maboud Ebrahimzadeh, Austene Van, and Jason Babinsky in Disgraced at Milwaukee Rep, 2017. Photo credit: Michael Brosilow. Darren Pettie, Heather Burns, Jeremy Shamos, and Marin Hinkle in Roundabout Theatre Company's revival of Dinner With Friends, 2014. Photo credit: Monique Carboni. Elliot Gould, Natalie Wood, Robert Culp, and Dyan Cannon in Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice, 1969. Photo credit: The New Yorker.