The theatre twitters are abuzzzz this morning with the just-announced news that the Goodman has added Yasmina Reza’s award-winning hit play, God of Carnage, to their 2011 lineup. A smart move, considering the national tour of the Broadway production was recently cancelled (only days after Broadway in Chicago sent out their 2011 season brochure which included Carnage).
My NYC theatre pals have made multiple trips to the Broadway production, citing it as a highlight of their theatre-going season. The last Reza play I saw left me disappointed, but I trust my friends’ opinions.
Casting for the Goodman production is pending, but may I suggest Barbara Robertson in the role Marcia Gay Harden won the Tony for? Just because I love her so.
Snippets from the Goodman’s press release follow:
Artistic Director Robert Falls announced today that the Chicago premiere of the Tony Award-winning God of Carnage, Yasmina Reza’s “savvy and deliciously caustic new comedy of urban ill-manners” (Chicago Tribune) and Broadway sensation, will take place at Goodman Theatre starting March 5, 2011. The triple Tony Award-winning God of Carnage joins six previously-announced plays (download full press release below)—including four world premieres by Sarah Ruhl, Regina Taylor, David Henry Hwang and Thomas Bradshaw, as well as Bernstein’s legendary Candide, helmed by Mary Zimmerman and Robert Falls’ new production of Chekhov’s masterwork, The Seagull. One remaining play is still to be announced.
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In God of Carnage, Alan and Annette’s son hits Michael and Veronica’s son with a stick, and the two couples meet to discuss the problem over appetizers. What starts as a civilized get-together quickly devolves into a scrappy, laugh-out-loud evening that The New Yorker calls “ninety minutes of sustained mayhem.” In unanimous critical praise for its Broadway debut, God of Carnage has been hailed “first class” (The New York Times), “the best play in town!” (New York Post) and “scabrously funny” (USA Today) and earned three Tony Awards (including Best Play) as well as the Outer Critics Circle Award and the Drama Desk Award. The London production won the Laurence Olivier Award for Best New Comedy. The play is currently running on Broadway, slated to close June 27, 2010.French playwright, actress, novelist and screenwriter Yasmina Reza earned the 1997 Olivier Award and the 1998 Tony Award for Art, which has been produced worldwide and translated into over 30 languages. Her other plays include Conversations After a Burial, Winter Crossing and The Unexpected Man.
Chicago Theatre Addict 
that’s great news! I was disappointed when I heard that BiC removed it from their lineup.
Yes, and I think BiC removed it because the tour’s producers pulled the plug.
I had the same thought about Barbara Robertson. And then I thought, why not replicate the cast of “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf” that was done at Court two years ago. That was Robertson, Kevin Gudahl, Lance Baker, and a woman whose name I’ve forgotten. She could be replaced with hot Chicago actress Brenda Barrie.
I did see the play and New York very early in the run and was a little disappointed after the hype. But it’s funny.
By the way, didn’t this play used to have a “The” at the beginning? That’s what the printed text says but all the current publicity omits the definite article.
Great casting suggestion, Diane! I’m all for it.
As for the play’s title, I looked on Wikipedia, and the original West End poster has it listed without the “The.”