Seeing the tremendously intense, uncomfortable, brutal and cathartic production of “God of Carnage” made me realize again how much I’ve missed the now-defunct QC Theatre Workshop in Davenport.

The original 2009 Broadway version of Yasmina Reza’s bitter, black comedy — with the star-studded cast Jeff Daniels, Hope Davis, James Gandolfini and Marcia Gay Harden – won three Tonys, including Best Play. “God of Carnage” was first done in the Quad Cities in 2011 at the Village Theatre in East Davenport.

The thrilling Murderer’s Row of a QC cast in the new Playcrafters version features Leslie Day and Tom Taylor as one couple, and Stephanie Burrough and Mike Schulz as the other, and it’s like watching a theatrical All-Star Game. Helmed with utter confidence and full-throated fury by Jeremy Mahr (a noted local actor who’s had prominent roles in the past year at Moline’s Black Box Theatre, in “To Leer at Lear” and “The Lion in Winter”), this trio of men represent some of the best of the former Theatre Workshop, which operated from 2012 to 2019 at the former Johnson School gym off Locust Street in Davenport.

Leslie Day, left, and Stephanie Burrough in the new Playcrafcters production, directed by Jeremy Mahr.

The QCTW specialized in smart, challenging, professionally produced contemporary theater, often in intermission-less bursts like the 85-minute “Carnage” (a tradition often taken up by Moline’s Black Box Theatre). In the new Playcrafters program, Schulz (a well-known actor, movie critic and theater director) notes that he participated in 19 QCTW productions, over half featuring Taylor and/or Mahr. Some of his most memorable turns were co-starring with Taylor in the first Workshop production, 2012’s “Red”; in the world premiere of Aaron Randolph’s “A Green River” (starring Taylor) in 2013; starring in “How I Learned to Drive” (directed by Taylor) in 2013; co-starring with Mahr in “True West” in 2014, and last acting with Taylor in “The Pillowman” in 2015.

While Schulz has directed Playcrafters’ “12 Angry Jurors” (2022) and Leslie Day (as Stella) in “A Streetcar Named Desire” (2024), “God of Carnage” actually makes his Barn Theatre acting debut, kicking off the 97^th season for the Moline troupe. Like each of the privileged, unlikable quartet here, Schulz is perfectly cast and flawless. In the story, when a playground fight between two 11-year-old boys leaves one injured (Benjamin hit Henry with a stick, breaking two of his teeth), their parents agree to meet and resolve the matter calmly. What begins as a civil conversation soon unravels into chaos, as egos, insecurities, and prejudices bubble to the surface.

Stephanie Burrough in “God of Carnage,” running through March 8 at Playcrafters, 4950 35th Ave., Moline.

This internationally acclaimed comedy takes us deep into the most dangerous place on Earth: parenthood. “What happens when two sets of parents meet up to deal with the unruly behavior of their children? A calm and rational debate between grown-ups about the need to teach kids how to behave properly? Or a hysterical night of name-calling, tantrums and tears before bedtime?” the play synopsis says. “Boys will be boys, but the adults are worse – much worse. Tony and Olivier Award-winning God of Carnage is a comedy of manners, without the manners.”

In his insightful program note, Mahr calls this show “bitingly, darkly funny,” full of “flawed characters that explodes in a comedy of how serious and selfish we all can be. Hopefully, after sorting through this mess, we can all recognize that our humanity makes us more alike than different,” he wrote.  Mahr says the harsh language of the show (rated R for profanity; simulated vomiting; ableist, racist and homophobic slurs, and adult situations) is not gratuitous, “it is there because underneath our polite exteriors or out of mixed company, we often think and say horrible things.”

Tom Taylor, left, and Mike Schulz in “God of Carnage,” directed by Jeremy Mahr.

One of Mahr’s masterstrokes is to create very cool bookends to the production (which starts peacefully and civilly, gradually ramping up like a freight train, that barrels to frightening speeds and explosions). Though not in the script, he creates brief, wordless portraits of the four characters, each in a corner of the stage under dramatic lights. At the outset, there is martial music accompanying the scene, that makes it seem the couples are preparing for the war that’s about to take place; even the light at rear is red. The show ends in a similar fashion.

In between, the emotional roller-coaster the quartet rides is like a horror movie without weapons or blood. The cutting, cruel dialogue comprises the main weapons, and while it’s certainly not a feel-good play, we feel a lot of the pain and anger of the situation, and can’t help but laugh at much of the crazy goings-on (exacerbated by imbibing of rum), and admire the actors’ expert craft and dedication in bringing it to withering, exhilarating life.

Leslie Day and Mike Schulz in “God of Carnage,” at Playcrafters Barn Theatre.

Burrough is the most sympathetic and moral of the characters, trying in vain to maintain the high ground. Schulz brings his trademark frazzled, frustrated intensity to his hardware and household goods salesman, and his uncaring treatment of an annoying pet hamster is hilarious. Taylor is a boorish, uber-confident and swaggering lawyer who keeps getting interrupted by calls about a lawsuit he’s part of, and Day nails her part of a protective mother, who loses her cool (and her cookies in a key gross-out scene).

Burrough’s character at one point fittingly notes this is exhausting, but like a roller-coaster, it can be scary and nerve-wracking, but the satisfaction of getting through it is matchless and indescribable. The play’s title comes from a reference Taylor’s Alan makes, reflecting life as a jungle of animals, “the god of carnage has ruled since the dawn of time,” and it’s a ruthless survival of the fittest.

“God of Carnage” continues at Playcrafters on Friday and Saturday, March 6 and 7 at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, March 8 at 3 p.m. For tickets and more information, visit the Playcrafters website HERE.

“God of Carnage,” at Playcrafters, features (L-R) Leslie Day, Mike Schulz, Tom Taylor and Stephanie Burrough.

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Jonathan Turner

Jonathan Turner -- who has called the Quad Cities home since 1995 -- has decades of experience as a professional journalist and pianist. His experience writing for daily newspapers, public radio and local TV encompasses a wide range of subjects, including the arts, politics, education, economic development, historic preservation, business, and tourism.

Jonathan most loves writing about music and the arts (which he now does as a freelancer for the River Cities Reader and Visit Quad Cities). He has a passion for accompanying musicals, singers, choirs and instrumentalists, including playing for QC Music Guild's 2023 productions of RENT and SWEENEY TODD. He is assistant music director and accompanist for the spring 2025 Music Guild show, ESCAPE TO MARGARITAVILLE. He wrote an original musical based on The Book of Job, which premiered at Playcrafters in 2010. Jonathan penned a 175-page history book about downtown Davenport, that was published by The History Press in 2016, and a travel guide about the QC published by Reedy Press in 2022.