Hennie van Greunen's translations and adaptations include Debbie Isitt's Die vrou wat haar man gekook het, David Eldridge's Festen, Willy Russell's Shirley Valentyn, and Mitch Albom and Jeffrey Hatcher's Dinsdae by Morrie.
Trix Pienaar translated the text from the original French, Le Dieu du Carnage, and Van Greunen adapted it to a South African setting. Yasmina Reza's (Art/Conversations after a burial) God of Carnage was awarded the 2008 Olivier award for Best New Comedy in the West End and in 2009 it won three Tony awards (out of a total six nominations) including the award for Best New Play.
The Afrikaans incarnation boasts an incredible cast: Anna-Mart van der Merwe (Begeertes/Imbumba/Die Twaalfuurwals), is Yvonne, the opposite character to the one she played in the English version of the play. Yvonne is a moral crusader whose mission it is to convert as many to her social causes as possible. Starting with her long-suffering husband, Magiel, who is portrayed by Johann Nel (2007 Fleur du Cap winner for his work in Festen). Leon Kruger (Om soos 'n lyk te lê, Suurgat) is the workaholic Alan, a lawyer who is married to his cellphone. Annette, Alan's wife is played by Martelize Kolver, whose intrinsic sense of comic timing has been proven in productions like Die Francois Toerien show, Die ryk weduwee and kykNet's popular new improv series, Proesstraat.
When Magiel and Yvonne Villier invite Alan and Annette le Roux to their house in order to sort out a fight between their respective sons, this cultured, demure conversation quickly unravels into a fight rooted in spite and childishness. Alan's devotion to his job is only trumped by his passion for sarcasm, Yvonne struggles to come to terms with the continent on which she lives, Annette feels rather queasy and Magiel is unmasked as a hamster killer. The humour is fast, acidic and dark. The play encapsulates the double moral standards that are so prevalent wherever you live.
In 95 minutes, this meeting moves from a cultivated peace conference to a full-scale suburban world war. And even more so when the characters find themselves not in modern-day Paris, but in the suburb of Durbanville, Cape Town, the European welcome mat to Africa. And they talk about culture, morality and the joys of living in a disciplined, well-structured society.
But the god of carnage has other plans ...
Tickets can be booked through Computicket at +27 (0)83 915 8000 or www.computicket.co.za or at any Shoprite/Checkers.
For discounts, block bookings and corporate bookings, call Sharon on +27 (0)21 680 3962 or email her at az.ca.tcu@rednaxela.norahs .
