Member Update – Geoff O’Keeffe

Geoff O’Keeffe directs Yasmina Reza’s God of Carnage for Mill Productions at The Mill Theatre, Dundrum, from 4th- 7th February, 2015.

Prior to Carnage, French playwright Reza’s best-known work was the ubiquitous Art (1994), a witty and urbane comedy about a modern painting whose purchase rends asunder a group of male friends. ‘The God Of Carnage’ took home the 2009 Tony Award for its Broadway production. In it Reza sets up a summit between two sets of parents ready to out-moralize one another over a playground scuffle between their 11-year-olds. Veronica and her husband Michael have the moral high ground – it’s their boy who lost two teeth – and home-court advantage. They’ve invited Annette and Alan over to their apartment to discuss the damage and repercussions in a civilized manner: No police, no principals, and no lawyers. As spousal, sexual and ideological alignments are formed and quickly broken, drink is imbibed, insides expelled and clothing is removed as facades fall, tongues loosen and the truth wins out.

The original Broadway cast included Jeff Daniels, Hope Davis, James Gandolfini and Marcia Gay Harden. Roman Polanski directed the 2011 film adaption of God of Carnage, whose title was shortened to Carnage. The film was shot in Paris, due to Polanski’s outstanding criminal conviction in the United States, but the play’s Brooklyn setting is retained in the film. Jodie Foster and John C. Reilly play Penelope and Michael, while Christoph Waltz and Kate Winslet play Alan and Nancy.

A modern and edgy drama by renowned French playwright Yasmina Reza with an excellent cast of four actors, directed by Geoffrey O’Keeffe for Mill Productions.