2023
Keski-Uudenmaan teatteri

Yasmina Reza’s play Carnage (originally titled Le Dieu du Carnage) is a darkly comedic drama that explores themes of civility, conflict, and the thin veneer of social respectability. Written in French and first performed in 2006, Carnage presents a sharp, satirical view of modern society’s pretensions through the interactions of two sets of parents meeting to discuss a violent incident involving their young sons. The play’s brutal humor and incisive critique of human nature have made it a modern classic.

Given the intimate setting of this one-room drama, I incorporated a vinyl record player on stage, allowing the actors to interact with it during the performance. This not only reinforced the living room atmosphere but also created a dynamic connection between the onstage action and the sound design. The vinyl records featured Western jazz music, evoking connotations of upper-middle-class sensibilities. To extend this motif, I drew upon jazz instrumentation in the overall sound design, including brass instruments, drums, and especially marimba, which added a playful and distinctive texture to the sound design.

To balance this warmth, I proposed introducing a darker, contrasting mode—a sonic representation of the characters’ inner turmoil. These moments were conveyed through abrupt sound and light cuts lasting only a few seconds, strategically placed even mid-dialogue. The sudden shifts exposed the simmering rage within the characters’ minds, disrupting the otherwise composed atmosphere. These sharp, aggressive interruptions also served as rhythmic elements, enriching the dramaturgy with their jarring impact.

As the play reached its climax and the characters’ suppressed anger erupted into a violent physical altercation, I amplified the chaos with a bold auditory choice. Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 (the Ode to Joy segment), widely regarded as a monument to Western civilization, played at full blast while fake blood flew across the stage. The combination of this iconic piece with the onstage chaos was striking, creating a memorable and impactful experience that effectively underscored the narrative’s climax..