What happens when two highly strung couples meet for a civil discussion about a playground fight between their sons? The conversation quickly morphs into a laugh-out-loud, train wreck of an afternoon among savages, called “90 minutes of sustained mayhem” by The New Yorker.  
The New York Times, meanwhile, hailed it as a “four-way prize fight” and the Chicago Tribune described Yasmina Reza’s play a “savvy and deliciously caustic new comedy.” In fact, God of Carnage received the Olivier Award for Best New Comedy, as well as the Outer Critics Circle and Drama League Awards for Best Play.
That is why Manila is abuzz with anticipation as God of Carnage gets a Philippine incarnation, presented by Atlantis Productions and the Singapore Repertory Theater.
The two couples are Veronica (Lea Salonga), a writer and a wife, and Michael (Adrian Pang), a wholesaler; and Anette (Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo), a self-proclaimed wealth manager, and Alan (Art Acuña), a corporate lawyer. They meet and discuss their kids’ unfortunate playground squabble.
This comedy of manners —without the manners — has Bobby Garcia as its director. Lea Salonga returns to the Philippine stage via this straight play. Her last Manila starrer was Proof, performed almost a decade ago, also with Atlantis Productions.
Adrian Pang, who plays husband to her character, was with Lea in They’re Playing Our Song, presented 12 years ago. The Singaporean actor shares that he could not, at first, appreciate “what the big deal” is about the play.
“When you read the script, you realize that, okay, these people talk a lot; these characters are not particularly sympathetic; they are not likeable; and they are really four unpleasant individuals.”
In the play, Lea and Adrian butt heads with Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo, Lea’s co-star in Proof, and US-based thespian Art Acuña of The Kitchen Musical (and Gawad Urian and Golden Screen Awards best supporting actor from the Cinemalaya film Niño).
“When we read it out loud, hearing it for the first time, with our voices coming out and our situations becoming real, now I get it,” Adrian beams. “These characters are unpleasant, but they are meant to be, because they are real people. Nobody is perfect! These people are callous, they have their own prejudices, hang-ups, major baggage, and it all comes out within a confined space, and in a span of one hour, 20 minutes.”
Theater has a special place in Pang’s heart. He established his own company in Singapore and has had his share commercial endeavors.
“I have worked as an actor in London for eight years, did a lot of shows for a TV channel in Singapore doing all sorts of roles, and after doing it for quite some time, I got fed up,” Pang utters. “When you appear in badly written sitcoms, cheesy soap operas, there is something in you that somehow get lost. Once in awhile, you get to do be part of something that is decently written, but often times, 90 percent of what you do is rubbish, and inside me, there is this nagging question, why did I agree to do rubbish?”
The actor, who shares his admiration for God of Carnage’s writing, adds: “I have to stop doing it and go back to my roots. Every year, I (would) tell my producer then, when I was still in contract with them, (that I needed) to do one play or else I would kill someone.” The actor lets out a hearty laugh.
And how is Lea Salonga as leading lady? The Singaporean actor’s face lights up and replies, “She is a family woman now. Being a mother obviously has made a huge impression in her life as a performer and as a person. The part that has not changed... she is still the wonderful, giggly, open girl that I first worked with in 1994. She is obviously very grounded and more mature.”
Clad in an all-black ensemble, the Tony Award-winning actress in question reveals her excitement for this production: “It’s been almost 10 years since I last did a play, so I come into God of Carnage with a lot of excitement and fear.”
“I’m also excited that I get to do this with Adrian Pang, my partner in They’re Playing Our Song, a man with whom I couldn’t ever keep a straight face when doing a scene,” Salonga reveals. “We also have Menchu here, who I consider as a personal and professional partner in crime. We first worked together in Rep’s (Repertory Philippines) Fiddler on the Roof as members of the ensemble, a billion years ago, and have since sang, acted and even coached together whose body of work I have only the deepest and more ardent respect for. I’m thrilled that Art Acuña will be with us, too; a very good reputation follows him from show to show.”
“Bobby Garcia, a frequent collaborator and dear friend, will be at the helm,” Salonga says. “Having him as our director only guarantees more belly-splitting laughter at every turn of this creative process. We hope you all laugh with us.”
Salonga shares that doing the role of Veronica is a blast. “I am so happy because she swears a lot,” she laughs. “A lot of these four-letter words coming out of Veronica’s mouth are fueled by alcohol. She is really intoxicated, it is out of anger.”
Lea admits, “My character and I are very opposite. The thing about me when I get drunk, I don’t get mean, I don’t get belligerent. I am happy, I’m affectionate, I’m that kind of person when I am intoxicated.
“What is so interesting about this play is that everybody becomes honest. And in that degree of honesty, handling the truth becomes a terrible and nerve-wracking exercise.
“I can be mean,” Lea avers.  “I know I am very capable of that. I think everyone has a mean streak. I think it’s very rare to find somebody who does not possess it. However, I feel better when I am nicer to people.”
After God of Carnage, Salonga will be flying to San Diego to begin rehearsals for Allegiance, a new musical that will play at the Old Globe Theatre in San Diego from Sept. 7 to Oct. 21, 2012.
God of Carnage will also travel to Singapore in November 2012 for a three-week run with the Singapore Repertory Theatre. This theater group has collaborated with both Salonga, Garcia and Atlantis Productions on numerous productions in the past.
The show will have a limited engagement from July 13 to 22 at the Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium, RCBC Plaza, Makati. Catch it!

For tickets, call Atlantis Productions at 892-7078.