Review: GOD OF CARNAGE at Palm Springs Cultural Center

With a title like God of Carnage, you might not expect to hear laughter in the audience. With Deborah Harmon’s exquisite direction, executed by a cast of brilliant actors, Desert Ensemble Theatre delivers dark comedy at its best. The show runs at the Palm Springs Cultural Center through March 23, 2025.

Yasmina Reza’s 2008 play explores dysfunctional communication by delving into sensitive relationships and the dynamics of power. Two sets of parents meet to discuss a fight between their respective 11-year-old sons, whom we do not meet in this production. After a polite and guarded beginning, they gradually devolve into squabbling youngsters themselves, ultimately creating chaos.

The play is set in the living room of Michael (John Corr) and Veronica (Lizzie Schmelling). Their son Bruno had two teeth knocked out by Ferdinand, son of Annette (Yo Younger) and Alan (David Youse).  Who among us can predict the behavior of agitated pre-teen boys? When Bruno refuses to allow Ferdinand to join his gang, Ferdinand hits Bruno with a stick. That is the backstory.  Fast forward to the discussion.

Veronica opens the encounter, vaguely supported at first by her bobble-head husband Michael. Annette and Alan are restrained at the outset, sympathizing but not acknowledging their responsibility. Soon, Alan receives a call and spends the majority of his time on his cell, obsessed about a business matter. Acquiescent bobble head does a one-eighty and begins to brag about his fighting and sports prowess. In her frustration, Veronica stomps around the room trying to restart the conversation. Annette has something to eat and throws up. You can see where this is going.

Each performance is a gem. The casting is perfect. I don’t think a string of adjectives and adverbs would make their characterizations sound any more praiseworthy. Harmon skillfully moves the four actors around on that the relatively cramped performing space that it seems to expand into a larger living room..  An actor herself, she is definitely an actor’s director.

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