Oct. 16-20, Theatre UAB presents “God of Carnage”

In this 2009 Tony Award winner for Best Play, two upscale couples meet to discuss a playground fight between their children; but as tensions emerge, their polite veneer begins to break down.Theatre UAB's new season will open Oct. 16-20, with "God of Carnage," a classic comedy of manners, at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

Two upscale Brooklyn couples meet to discuss a playground altercation between their 11-year-old sons. The parents intend to resolve the matter civilly. But over the course of 90 minutes, tensions and hostilities emerge, and the polite veneer between them begins to break down. Written by Yasmina Reza and translated by Christopher Hampton, "God of Carnage" won the 2009 Tony Award for Best Play.

This play contains strong language, adult themes and brief simulated violence. Performances are at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 16-19, with a 2 p.m. matinee Sunday, Oct. 20, in UAB's Alys Stephens Performing Arts Center, Odess Theatre. Tickets are $15; $10 for UAB students. Purchase tickets at AlysStephens.org or call 205-975-2787.

Theatre UAB is the performance company of the UAB College of Arts and Sciences'

Department of Theatre. Visit the UAB Department of Theatre online at uab.edu/cas/theatre, or call 205-934-3236.

The comedy of manners style, which evolved in the mid-17th century, satirizes the social behavior and values of a particular class or group, often the upper classes, says director Dennis McLernon. These plays use wit, wordplay and irony to highlight the absurdities of social conventions, manners and attitudes of the time. They also involve physical farce and slapstick. Characters are often well-educated, cynical and manipulative, with their dialogue and actions revealing hypocrisy, vanity and pretension.

"The humor arises from the conflict between the characters' public personas and their private motivations and desires," he said.

The comedy of manners style may be historical, but it is still relevant today as social conventions and values continue to evolve and be challenged, the director says.

"The genre provides a way to reflect on and critique societal norms with humor and wit, making it a valuable tool for creative writers to explore contemporary issues and attitudes," McLernon said.