When the actors hit the stage for God of Carnage at Mile Square Theatre in Hoboken’s Monroe Center on Oct. 6, parents in Hudson County should be able to relate to the problems that plague the characters, director Chris O’Connor believes.
The plot of God of Carnage revolves around four parents who gather to discuss a fight between their children. The comedy also has life lessons embedded in the script, and O’Connor hopes to flesh out those lessons with a professional discussion after the performances.
Evenings at the Monroe Center will include post play discussions, and the theatre will bring in family and social psychologists to talk about the play and have a discussion with the audience about bullying.
“It’s certainly the kind of play that sticks with you.” – Chris O’Connor, director
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The play, a remake of a Tony-winning comedy, brings to light issues of bullying in schools.
“When the parenting styles [of the four] collide, they have a really hard time even just getting to how to make it a teaching moment for the kids,” O’Connor said. “It’s something universal and topical. We think we know our audience at Mile Square Theatre in Hoboken and what they’d be interested in.”
A family affair
O’Connor will have the opportunity to direct his wife, Annie McAdams, who plays Veronica in the play. McAdams appeared in MST’s second play of 2011, 7th Inning Stretch. She is, in addition to being an actress, also a graphic designer who has worked on designs for the Metropolitan Museum and The New York Times.
The play will also feature actors Charlie Kevin, who plays Michael, Patricia Buckley, who plays Veronica, and Matthew Lawler, who plays Alan.
Although the play may be a family affair for McAdams and O’Connor, God of Carnage is not for children.
“It’s an adult play,” O’Connor said. “There’s strong language, and a lot of it would go over kids’ heads.”
Mile Square Theatre, the only professional play company in Hudson County, puts on four plays per year. O’Connor said choosing God of Carnage was not a difficult decision.
“I saw it on Broadway with my wife and we both turned to each other when it was over and said we’ve got to do this at MST,” he said. “Hoboken is such a city of young families now and we thought it would really resonate with our audience.”
God of Carnage won the Tony award for best play in 2009. The play theatre had to apply to get the rights for the show.
“Last year we tried but didn’t get the rights because another New Jersey theatre beat us to it,” O’Connor said. “We’re surprised we got these rights because there’s a movie coming out.”
O’Connor said the rights can only be awarded to one theater in a 50 mile radius.
Preparations for the play began around May, when O’Connor cast the four actors. Over the past three weeks, the cast has been rehearsing together, O’Connor said.
He said the set design is rather simple.
“In this play it’s a very specific locale: we’re in the living room,” he said.
God of Carnage was originally written by Yasmina Reza, and translated by Christopher Hampton.
Details
The play began on Oct. 6, and runs every Thursday through Sunday until Oct. 23. Evening performances are Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at 8 p.m. Matinees are on Saturday and Sunday, and begin at 3 p.m. Tickets are available online at MileSquareTheatre.org or before each performance at the theatre’s new home at the Monroe Theatre space, 720 Monroe St. in Hoboken.
Tickets are $25 for adults, and $15 for students and seniors.
On Oct. 13 at 8 p.m., O’Connor said the theatre will have a “pay what you will performance”. Audience members can pay whatever they wish to attend the show.
Ray Smith may be reached at RSmith@hudsonreporter.com