Directed by John Miller-Stephany, Yasmina Reza's acclaimed comedy-drama runs through Aug. 7 on the McGuire Proscenium Stage.

"Alan Raleigh (McCallum) and his wife Annette (Maloney) visit the apartment of Michael and Veronica Novak (Carlson and Blagen, respectively) for what all believe will be a civil discussion about how best to deal with a playground fight between their two sons," according to the Guthrie. "With fissures in the friendliness evident from the start, the meeting quickly degenerates as the four spiral into irrational arguments and the loaded topics of misogyny, racial prejudice and homophobia. Insults fly and the fault lines split open altogether, allowing free rein to 'the god of carnage,' in whom Alan admits proudly to believe. Loyalty to one's spouse becomes a disposable commodity. Spouses turn on spouses and new alliances are formed and dissolved..."

"The idea behind the play is that civilization may only be a veneer and what lies right beneath the surface is the savage man," said director Miller-Stephany in a statement. "With that said, God of Carnage may have been written by a French woman, translated by an Englishman and set in Brooklyn, New York, but Minnesotans are going to take this play to heart, because nobody understands passive/aggressive behavior better than we do."

The artistic team also includes Todd Rosenthal (set designer), Mathew J. LeFebvre (costume designer), Marcus Dilliard (lighting designer), Scott W. Edwards (sound designer), Jo Holcomb (dramaturgy), Lucinda Holshue (voice and dialect coach), Marcela Lorca (movement), Michele Harms (stage manager), Justin Hossle (assistant stage manager) and Jon Ferguson (assistant director).

For ticket information visit www.guthrietheater.org.