by yasmina reza play guide1 god of carnage by yasmina reza play guide snowy range summer theatre at...
TRANSCRIPT
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God of Carnage
by Yasmina Reza
Play Guide
Snowy Range Summer Theatre at the University of Wyoming June 23 – June 27, 2020 @ 7:30 p.m.
God of Carnage Play Guide compiled and written by Jenefer Pasqua, Snowy Range Summer
Theatre Dramaturgical Intern.
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Snowy Range Summer Theatre....................... Page 3
The Story and Characters ................................ Page 4
Yasmina Reza ................................................. Page 5
Interview with Director Jason Pasqua ............. Pages 6-7
Helicopter and Snowplow Parents .................. Pages 8-10
References in the Play ..................................... Pages 11-16
Privileged People Behaving Badly ................. Page 17
About the Dramaturg ...................................... Page 17
Table of Contents
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Snowy Range Summer Theatre
at the University of Wyoming
The Snowy Range Summer Theatre season runs at the University of Wyoming
each June and July and generally features three productions, and sometimes one
touring production.
We are proud of the long history and success
of Snowy Range Summer Theatre, which at
68 years old is the second oldest program
west of the Mississippi! The summer
company each year is comprised of current
students and alumni working in the field, as
well as outside professionals.
The
summer season is staged within a six to
eight-week session and offers student
performers and technicians valuable
practical theatre experience and a stipend.
Summer company members also have the
option to earn up to 2 hours of academic
credit if they wish.
Outstanding junior and/or senior theatre majors at UW (particularly those students
seeking a professional degree) are strongly encouraged to audition for the acting
company or apply for the technical company. An effort is made to select qualified
students from UW to participate in the company along with students who are
recruited from throughout the nation.
Source: http://www.uwyo.edu/thd/whats-playing/snowy-range-festival/index.html
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By Yasmina Reza
Translated by Christopher Hampton
THE STORY: A playground altercation between eleven-year old boys
brings together two sets of Brooklyn parents for a meeting to resolve the
matter. At first, diplomatic niceties are observed, but as the meeting
progresses, and the rum flows, tensions emerge and the gloves come off,
leaving the couples with more than just their liberal principles in tatters.
CHARACTERS:
Alan Raleigh - A lawyer who is married to Annette and father to
Benjamin.
Annette Raleigh - Works in “wealth management” and is married to
Alan and mother to Benjamin.
Michael Novak - Owner of a wholesale company and is married to
Veronica and father to Henry.
Veronica Novak - A writer who is married to Michael and mother to
Henry.
Source: www.dramatists.com
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born May 1, 1959, Paris France, French
dramatist, novelist, director, and actress best known for her brief satiric plays that
speak to contemporary middle-class anxieties.
Reza was the daughter of Jewish parents who had immigrated to France. Her
Iranian father was an engineer, businessman, and a pianist, and her mother was a
violinist originally from Budapest. Reza studied at the University of Paris X,
Nanterre, and at the Drama School of Jacques Lecoq before working as an actress.
The first two plays she wrote, both winners of a Molière Award,
were Conversations après un enterrement (1986; Conversations After a Burial),
involving death and sex, and La Traversée de l’hiver (1989; “Winter Crossing”),
about the unlikely friendship that develops between six people spending their
vacation at a Swiss mountain resort.
It was the play, Art, however, which premiered in 1994, that brought Reza wide
notice. In the play three friends quarrel over a work of modern art—which is, in
effect, a blank canvas—thereby showing just how fragile friendship can be. The
play was in production on major stages worldwide virtually continuously after its
opening. It won Molière Awards for best author, play, and production; a
British Laurence Olivier Award for best comedy; and a Tony Award for best play.
Another hit, L’Homme du hasard (1995; The Unexpected Man), was a two-
character play set on a train traveling from Paris to Frankfurt. Following long
monologues by a self-absorbed male author and his female seatmate and fan, the
play ends with a brief dialogue between the two that centers on people’s need for
one another.
In the satiric comedy Le Dieu du carnage (2006; God of Carnage), Reza focused
on two couples who meet to discuss a fight between their young sons. The play
made its London debut in 2008 and subsequently won a Laurence Olivier Award.
The Broadway production of God of Carnage, which opened a year later, was also
critically acclaimed, and it earned a Tony Award for best play. For a 2011 film
version (titled Carnage), Reza cowrote the screenplay with Roman Polanski, who
also directed. Reza’s later plays include Comment vous racontez la partie (2011;
“How You Talk the Game”) and Bella figura (2015; “Beautiful Figure”), which
she wrote for the Schaubühne in Berlin and later directed in a 2017 Paris
production.
Source: https://www.britannica.com/biography/Yasmina-Reza
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Q: What inspired you to direct this play?
A: There were several things that drew me to this play. The first thing was that my
wife and I were lucky enough to see the original Broadway production of this play
in 2009. The production was fantastic! Another reason I was drawn to direct this
play was because Yasmina Reza writes great plays and dramatizes complex aspects
of the human experiences in funny and touching ways. I love directing work that
has great writing and reflects the social and political times of our society.
Q: What are some interesting characteristics of this play?
A: God of Carnage is about marriage and about being a parent. The play is
ostensibly about what we are going to do about what we are going to do about the
quarrel of the children, and they are not even present in the play. With the absence
of the children, the play obviously becomes about the parents and their marriages. I
have stolen this line from a TV show, and I love it…“When you’re married you
say “I’m sorry” a lot. You say ‘I’m sorry’ when you mean it. You say ‘I’m sorry’
when you don’t mean it. You say, ‘I’m sorry’ when you have no earthly idea what
could be wrong this time.” This play is about the day everybody gets tired of
saying “I’m sorry.” There are personal and political implications to this statement.
What makes this play unusual is there are a lot of ways to dramatize or explore
what a marriage is, and what a relationship is, and this play takes the “what
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happens when people stop lying to each other and themselves?” approach. What
are the deals we make with each other and with ourselves? This play reminds me
Yasmina Reza’s other play, Art. On the surface it’s about a painting (that the
audience never sees until the end). But what the play is actually about is two
friends and their conceptions of each other.
Q: What is the relevance of this play in 2020?
A: [All of us] are going to have to start having more honest conversations with
each other. That can be scary and that can be painful. We’re going to have to be
ready for some things we’re uncomfortable hearing, but you also need to be ready
to hear some things come out of your mouth, that you might also not be
comfortable with. Like I said, what happens when we stop saying “I’m sorry?”
That doesn’t mean we have to go around and apologize for everything, but I do
think we’re going to have to start having honest conversations with each other
about politics and societal norms. We all tell ourselves things that get us through
the day. That’s what makes the world work. But we better make sure we’re not
living in a fantasy world. Otherwise, there is nothing to hold on to anymore. Who
am I? Who are the people around me? We probably need to be a little more honest
about that.
*This interview was edited for clarification purposes.
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By Jenefer Pasqua
As an educator and parent, I believe one of the most interesting aspects of
the play, God of Carnage, is the absence of the children and always talked about
by adults on stage. The two boys involved in the fight are nowhere to be found.
The entire play centers on the conflict between the two boys, Benjamin and Henry,
however they never appear on stage. In my opinion, Reza uses the absence of the
children to highlight the behaviors of the adults. In this manner, the adults are
representative of the children. As a teacher of students at all levels in the K-12
public school system, I can tell you that most children will solve problems on their
own with little intervention from adults. Most often when a violent act occurs, the
children resolve the conflict immediately thereafter. Of course, this is not always
the case, but often, the children will find a way to resolve their problems and move
forward in an amicable manner.
The behaviors demonstrated by the parents, Alan and Annette Raleigh, and
Michael and Veronica Novak, are not unique to this play. Several terms have been
coined by child psychologists in the last decade that clearly describe the type of
parents in the play. “Helicopter” and “Snowplow” are two terms that come to mind
when considering this behavior. For those unfamiliar with the terms, “Helicopter”
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refers to a parent who helps their child do everything. For example, In my first year
of teaching I remember an incident with a parent of one of my third-grade students.
The third-grade boy was quite shy and relied on his mother for everything. She
would walk him into the classroom every day and would ask a list of questions
before she would exit the classroom. She would lurk in the hallway during
classroom instruction, peering through the classroom door window. At one point, I
shared this incident with a colleague during lunch, and she said, “Oh yeah, I had
him in first grade, and I had to get the principal to ban Mom from my classroom.”
A “Snowplow” parent is someone who removes all barriers in front of their
children. Writing in Psychology Today, Peter Gray, a professor at Boston College,
observed that such parents “do what they can to hide their snowplow efforts from
their children, to spare them the humiliation of knowing that their 'success' did not
come from their own merits.” Gray added, “Their snowplowing is aimed not just at
clearing paths and opening doors but also at inflating their children's egos”
(Zimmer, 1).
Are the parents in God of Carnage both types of parents? They are
attempting to remove the barrier of “now what” from the children. Benjamin and
Henry had a “fight” with a stick, now what? Well, the boys do not get to decide.
The parents meet to shield their children from the problem-solving process and to
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determine what is best without the children present. Are the parents Helicopter or
Snowplow parents? Or are they both?
Works Cited
Zimmer, Ben. “Snowplowing”: When Parents Try to Clear all Obstacles; After the
Rise of 'Helicopter Parenting' there's Now another Way to Overprotect
children—seen at its Extreme in the College Admissions Scandal.” Wall
Street Journal (Online), Mar 29, 2019. ProQuest,
http://libproxy.uwyo.edu/login/?url=https://search-proquest-
com.libproxy.uwyo.edu/docview/2199260046?accountid=14793.
If you would like to read more on this subject, see the book, The Coddling of the American
Mind: How Good Intentions and Bad Ideas Are Setting Up a Generation for Failure by Greg
Lukianoff & Jonathan Haidt, Penguin Books, 2018.
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References in the Play
French Food References
WHAT IS CLAFOUTIS?
Clafoutis (pronounced klah-foo-tee) is a dessert from central France.
Clafoutis is most often made with black cherries in an eggy batter that
resembles a flan in the middle and a cake around the outer edges.
WHAT THE CLAFOUTIS IS REALLY ABOUT.
Veronica claims to serve Clafoutis for her love of the dessert and for the
fact that her mother-in-law gave her the recipe. However, in my opinion,
the real reason she serves the dessert is to show how “cultured” she is. The serving of the dessert is not about the dessert itself; it is about
demonstrating the appearance of wealth and status.
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Recipe for Clafoutis
YIELD Serves 4–6
INGREDIENTS
1 cup whole milk
3 eggs
1/2 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 tablespoons butter, melted
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
PREPARATION
1. Preheat the oven to 325°F. In a large bowl, whisk together the milk, eggs, sugar, vanilla, and
butter until the sugar is dissolved. Add the flour and whisk until smooth. Pour the batter into
a cast iron skillet or pie pan.
2. Now add your favorite fruit or flavoring (see below). Bake until the clafoutis is beautifully
puffed and golden, 35–40 minutes. Serve immediately.
3. Clafoutis Variations:
Concord Grape Clafoutis: Once the batter is in the skillet, scatter 2 cups slightly crushed
Concord or other black or red grapes on top.
Cherry Clafoutis: Scatter 2 cups pitted cherries onto the batter once it's poured into pie
plates.
Source: https://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/basic-clafoutis-51208430
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New York Area References
BQE: Acronym for the Brooklyn - Queens Expressway provides a link from
Brooklyn and Queens points to the East River crossings. Also referred to as
Interstate 278.
Cobble Hill Park: A small city park located in the Cobble Hill neighborhood of
Brooklyn. The park displays a rose garden, playgrounds, and a dolphin fountain.
F Train: Portion of the Manhattan Transit Authority that connects Queens,
Manhattan, and Brooklyn.
Secaucus: A New Jersey town located 4.5 miles from Manhattan.
Whitman Park: This park honors Walt Whitman, a poet, journalist, and native
New Yorker.
Theatre/Art/Cultural References
Bacon: Francis Bacon was an Irish-born British painter who became prominent in
the art world with his work Three Studies for Figures at the Base of a Crucifixion,
which first exhibited in 1945 and caused quite a stir. The figures in the painting
show stylistic attributes that continued throughout Bacon’s work, including
physical distortion, violence, and emotionally raw imagery. He often created works
that were contemplations on prior works of
art that attracted his attention including his
famous Study after Velázquez's Portrait of
Pope Innocent X (1953) which referenced the
earlier work, but in a distorted fashion.
British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher
once famously described him as "that man
who paints those dreadful pictures;”
however, despite Ms. Thatcher’s rebuke of his work,
he was respected in his own time and is considered the
most important British painter since J.M.W. Turner.
Source: https://www.arizonatheatre.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/GodofCarnage-Final-Playguide.pdf
Three Studies for Figures
at the Base of a Crucifixion
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Charley’s Aunt: A three-act farce written by Brandon Thomas. This story is about
young Charlie Wykeham and his friend Jack Chesney attempting to obtain and
arrange love
Léonard Tsuguharu Foujita: was a Japanese painter best known for his
participation in the bohemian culture during the 1910s in Montparnasse,
Paris. Foujita’s strange yet representational paintings often depict
himself, cats, and women. He found nearly immediate success in Paris
and, despite having no connections beforehand, Foujita was able to sell
and live off his art. Born on November 27, 1886 in Tokyo, Japan, he
went on to study at the Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and
Music in 1910. After his move to Paris,
Foujita met and became friends with
prominent avant-garde artists of the day
like Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse, Amedeo
Modigliani, and Chaïm Soutine. His work
can now be found in the collections of the
Art Institute of Chicago, the Metropolitan
Museum of Art in New York, the National
Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., and the
Los Angeles County Museum of Art, among
others. Foujita died on January 29, 1968 in Zürich, Switzerland at the age
of 81.
Oskar Kokoschka: was an Austrian artist and poet known for his
Expressionist portraits and landscapes.
Characterized by staccato brushstrokes
and bright colors, the artist created
works that seem to shiver with energy.
Born on March 1, 1886, in Pöchlarn,
Austria, he grew up in Vienna and at 18
was awarded a scholarship to the city’s
School of Arts and Crafts. In 1908,
however, he was dismissed from the
institution after he displayed works
considered disturbing in both content
and technique. Throughout the 1920s and
The Dream
The Bride of the Wind (Tempest)
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1930s, he travelled across Europe, developing his dis tinctive method of
exaggerated portraiture that dramatized his sitters’ psychological states.
Having already fled the Nazi regime once, in 1937, his work was deemed
“degenerate art” by the Nazis and he was forced to escape to England . He
died on February 22, 1989 in Montreux, Switzerland at the age of 93.
Today, his works are held in the collections of the Art Institute of
Chicago, the Kunstmuseum Basel, the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum
in New York, and the Bilbao Fine Arts Museum, among others.
Kouros Cologne: A cologne by Yves Saint Laurent. Scents of Clary sage,
artemisia, bergamot, and coriander.
Shroud of Turin: The Shroud of Turin is a 14-foot linen cloth bearing an
image of a crucified man that has become a popular Catholic icon. For
some, it is the authentic burial shroud of Jesus Christ.
*All images sourced from Google fair use images.
Medical References
Ataxia: The word “ataxia,” comes from the Greek word, “a taxis” meaning
“without order or incoordination”. “Ataxia is a degenerative disease of the nervous
system. Many symptoms of Ataxia mimic those of being drunk, such as slurred
speech, stumbling, falling, and incoordination. These symptoms are caused by
damage to the cerebellum, the part of the brain that is responsible for coordinating
movement. Ataxia treatment involves a combination of medication to treat
symptoms and therapy to improve quality of life.
Beta Blockers: also known as beta-adrenergic blocking agents, medication used to
reduce your blood pressure. Beta blockers work to block the effects of epinephrine
(adrenaline).
Source: www.ataxia.org
Source::https://www.history.com/news/shroud-turin-facts
Source: http://www.artnet.com/artists/oskar-kokoschka/
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Endodontic Surgery: Endodontic surgery is more commonly called a “root
canal,” describes any surgical procedure involving teeth roots and the surrounding
area. Dentists often deal with inflammation or infection when performing
endodontic procedures.
The Lancet: The Lancet is an independent medical journal founded in 1823.
International References
Darfur Conflict: A conflict that remained unresolved centered on the Darfur region in western Sudan. The conflict began in 2003 when rebels
launched an insurrection to protest what they contended was the Sudanese
government’s disregard for the western region and its non-Arab population.
Ethiopian-Eritrean War: A conflict between Ethiopia and Eritrea. Eritrea
invaded Ethiopia in May of 1998 and ended in June 2008. The two countries were
fighting over land, and it is estimated between 70,000 and 100,000 people died
during the conflict.
Kinshasha: The capitol of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The Hague: It is not only the seat of the Dutch government, Parliament and
Supreme Court, but also the location of many international dispute resolution
organizations including the International Court of Justice and the International
Criminal Court. Behind New York and Geneva, The Hague is the third major
hosting city of the United Nations and boasts the Peace Palace, funded by
philanthropist Andrew Carnegie to house the Permanent Court of Arbitration...
Sheba: The name of a kingdom in Southern Arabia. The kingdom is mentioned in
the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament) and the Quran.
Source: https://www.arizonatheatre.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/GodofCarnage-Final-Playguide.pdf
Source: https://www.britannica.com/place/Sudan/Sudan-under-Bashir
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Privileged People Behaving Badly By Jenefer Pasqua
At several points in the play, derogatory slurs are used by one or more
characters. No doubt these characters consider themselves otherwise
good people. But with tempers flaring and communication breaking
down, their blind spots come into focus. Like all of us, the characters
imagine themselves as one thing, when in fact, the truth is more
complex. Michael, in his frustration with Veronica, uses a racial slur to
attack what he perceives as the hollowness of her good intentions and
self-righteousness. Veronica and Michael have invited Alan and Annette
to play a game called Apology. Veronica does not appear to be playing
the game correctly because her self-righteous attitude prevents her from
being gracious enough to see what is right in front of her. Of all the
characters, Alan responds most negatively to this behavior because he
sees and calls out Veronica’s hypocrisy. If these characters in the play,
and we as audience members, are to have truly open and civil
conversations, then the first person we need to be honest with is
ourselves.
About the Dramaturg
Jenefer Pasqua is a Wyoming native. She graduated from the University of
Wyoming with a bachelor’s degree in Political Science, a master’s degree in
Teaching from City University of Seattle, and master’s of science degree in Special
Education from Western Governors University. Currently, she teaches high school
special education students at Central High School in Cheyenne, Wyoming. She
has more than 15 years teaching experience at all grade levels K-12. In addition,
Jenefer has served as an adjudicator for the Wyoming State Thespian Festival
adjudicating in the areas of performance, publicity, and costume design. She has
been married to her husband, Jason, for 18 years, and they have a 12-year-old son
named Beckett. Jenefer loves to garden, read, travel, and play with her two dogs,
Rosie and Midas.