God of Carnage (Halo Productions) 2016 Toronto Fringe Review

God of Carnage poster

 

God of Carnage by Halo Productions takes you into the awkward and memorable conversation four parents ought to have after their two kids get into a fight.  This show is playing  at the Helen Gardiner Phelan Playhouse (79 St George St) as part of the 2016 Toronto Fringe Festival.

Living on the slippery slope between order and chaos, this show reminded me of how parents can ask for civilized problem-solving in a not so civilized way.

As I witnessed simple dialogues turn into heated arguments, I felt uncomfortable in an entertaining way. The small talk, long pauses and redundant jokes successfully made me feel as if I was in their living room listening to their conversation. Through the use red (in the props as well as costumes)  there was a well-establsiehd style with an added layer of symbolism.

The four actors never leave the stage and through fast-paced dialogues, a simple chat ends with goofy physical violence  and humorous discussions. Not strangers to Fringe Festival, Stephen Flett and Françoise Balthazar’s performance stood out as energetic and professional.  The natural flow between comments is authentic  and the character’s contrasting personalities bring interesting dynamics to the table.

However, as the career-driven husband disregards his nervous wife and the bossy mom becomes irritated by every breath her goofy husband takes, cliche gender-roles are more noticeable. And in consequence, the situation became more predictable and less-interesting for me. But despite by bias towards a more multi-cultural view of a family, the play kept me eager to find out what these dysfunctional couples were about to do next.

This show portrays parents as impulsive and childish individuals, which is always fun to witness. If you’re up for a few laughs some bizarre social interactions and lots of chaos, this show is for you.

Details

  • God of Carnage will be playing at the Helen Gardiner Phelan Playhouse (79 St George St)
  • Tickets are $12 at the door and in advance, and can be bought online, by telephone (416-966-1062), from the Fringe Club at Honest Ed’s Alley, and — if any remain — from the venue’s box office starting one hour before curtain. The festival also offers a range of money-saving passes for serious Fringers.
  • Be aware that Fringe performances always start exactly on time, and that late comers are never admitted.

Content WarningsGod of Carnage contains mature language.

Performances

  • Wednesday June 29th, 10:00 pm
  • Friday July 1st, 08:45 pm
  • Saturday July 2nd, 05:15 pm
  • Monday July 4th, 10:15 pm
  • Wednesday July 6th, 12:00 pm
  • Friday July 8th, 01:45 pm
  • Saturday July 9th, 07:30 pm

Logo provided by company.

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