The Play
'Art' by Yasmina Reza ran for 7 years in the West End, and among the notable actors who appeared in it during that time are Tom Courteney, Ken Stott and Albert Finney (the original West End cast), Nigel Havers, Richard Griffiths, Roger Lloyd-Pack and Jamie Theakston. The final cast line-up, when the play closed in January 2003 was Mark Gatiss, Steve Pemberton and Reece Shearsmith, better known as TV's 'League of Gentlemen.
The London Evening Standard reported; 'At last! that rare thing, a truly adult comedy, with more than mere laughter on its mind. At first, Yasmina Reza's Art, (which triumphed in Paris and Berlin), looks eager to make traditional fun of a man so keen to proclaim his love of daring abstract art that he buys a blank, white canvas for a fortune. But Miss Reza's interest lies not in the picture, but the dangerous antagonisms it sparks. Art is a French female's deliciously sharp imagining of how middle-class men relate to each other - or rather how they spectacularly fail to. This is no low shot aimed below the waist. Miss Reza views the male of the species more in amused resignation than feminist anger. An appealing comedy, whose surface charms conceal a dark and interesting interior. 'Art' is one of the rare dramas that appears to have been performed in every major city in the world, making a splash as a play that must be seen and discussed, 'Chic, short and wickedly, perceptively funny, it's the perfect West End play'. Says Nick Curtis of the London Evening Standard, 'The plays universal themes show universal appeal, as its stunning international success proves' he continued.
The story, about art and friendship, is simple. Serge has bought a modem painting for a relatively large sum of money (200,000 French francs). It is basically a large canvas, about five foot by four, painted white, with "fine white diagonal scars". One friend, Marc, is completely unsettled by Serge's purchase. Another mutual friend, Yvan, is more ambivalent.
At issue, in part, is the famous question: "What is art?" The white canvas pushes at the limits of the definition in the age-old debate. Central to the piece, for Serge, is that the artist, Antrios, is "well-known", and it is "worth mentioning" that it is a seventies Antrios. The experts say it is significant, so Serge believes it is.
Now Serge, naturally, wants validation from his friends. They in turn question their relationship with a man willing to spend such a large amount of money on something that they find hard pressed to consider 'art. Yvan finds himself caught between the other two men's extreme positions whilst desperately trying to prepare for his wedding. The joyous event gets dragged into the fight as the conflict becomes much more personal. In the end we realise the play is not about art at all, it is observing and exploring the nature of friendship.
There are a number of clever moments as the play balances itself between classicism and abstraction and the ending is truly inspired as the friends make their choices. 'Art' is a great play; and it is certainly an actor's play. A light entertainment, yet at times darkly comical and where it succeeds is in its examination of friendship as well as art.
Marc ... Paul du Plessis
Serge ... Chris Barltrop
Yvan ... Rob Hollis
Directed & Designed by Nic Walentowicz
Stage Manager ... Graham Shortland/Sid Durden
Lighting ... Hugh Farey
The following review appeared in 'Off the Record'
Absorbing Art—with or without!
The recent production of Yasmina Reza’s play Art at the Conquest Theatre was so poorly attended that one would be led to believe that it was far from a critical success!
Regular theatre goers may have been put off by the title, believing it to be too arty tarty for their taste, but if you missed this production you missed a fine performance by three outstanding amateur actors, Paul du Plessis, Chris Barltrop and Robert Hollis, under the direction of the clearly inspired Nic Walentowicz.
If any one can suggest that there was anything better on television to divert their attention on the final night of this play on Saturday 23 September, when this reviewer witnessed only eighteen paying people in the theatre, then a bottle of Co-op half decent wine is heading your way!
The Conquest Theatre is a fundamental asset to Bromyard, and unless it is supported in its endeavours to provide serious and interesting productions it will not be here for the entertainment and enlightenment of the area’s populace for much longer.
Art, an intriguing balance between comedy and a deep analysis of personal relationships, was first performed in Paris in 1994 where it touched a nerve with French audiences used to debating the place of art in life.
Essentially, Serge, played by Chris Barltrop, buys a painting for the inordinate amount of two hundred thousand francs, a painting which is essentially a canvas of pure white. His long term friend, Marc, played by Paul du Plessis, doubts the wisdom of the purchase and cannot comprehend his friend’s interpretation of its significance.
The third friend, Yvan, played by Robert Hollis, is unable to resolve the conflict between the two erstwhile friends and consequently, after much deliberation as to the value of the painting, finds himself as the butt of their disagreement.
All three actors, and the play’s director, more than ably explored the conflicting and deconstructive nature of the relationship between the former friends, but where was the audience for this superlative production?
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