An uneven act of God

THE GOD OF CARNAGE Hobart Repertory Theatre Society Until Saturday

TWO couples are drawn into dispute when the child of one couple hits the child of the other.

Yasmina Reza’s 2004 play provides a textbook example of middle-class domestic comedydrama.

There’s a feast of laugh-outloud lines, a memorable and spectacular vomiting scene, and a lot of good business with a vacuum cleaner, but it’s cynical and selfconsciously clever work.

The acting is variable. Mem Rynne and Andrew Holmes, as one couple, play in naturalistic mode, and deliver clearly conceived, realistic and enjoyable portraits of people you like until you get to know them better.

Matt Wilson brings his quirky physicality to Mr Novak, and successfully realises the comic pitch of the play.

He never misses a joke, but brings greater nuance than his fellow players, who all tend to play every line at full throttle.

Clare Pearson, one of my favourite Hobart actors, takes a false step in this show.

In place of character, she delivers caricature, and there’s a strong whiff of “Prue and Trude” (from Kath and Kim).

The direction of Ellen Roe handles the traffic and business competently, but misses the dynamic shape of the ebb and flow of the argument — and the play is all argument.

It plays on the same level for much of its length, disrupted by that splendid eruption of vomit, and a nice trailing-away at the end.

The set is an interesting idea, but the execution is cheap and nasty: mismatched flats and wings of shabby black tat. Conversely, the costuming is exquisite.

— ROBERT JARMAN