Art

In sequential solo scenes, Art’s three characters — Marc, Serge, and Yvan, all old friends — introduce themselves and their erupting conflict to the audience before exposing us to shared scenes in one or another of their homes.

This (Olivier, Tony, and Moliere) Award–winning play’s setup is that Marc finds himself disturbed that Serge should spend a small fortune on a modern painting that to his mind is without merit and tells their common friend Yvan all about it — and attempts to enlist his help in bringing Serge to artistic enlightenment.

The Street’s set for Art is bright, clean, modern, and versatile, with armchairs that the characters can just about throw at one another, a moveable wall, and a magical canvas, all beautifully lit and supported by great sound.  The characters play perfectly off one another; the assumptions underlying their relationships emerge naturally and believably; and the increasingly incredulous offence they take simply adds to the fun.

The play’s weak point, after its otherwise realistic performance of the progressive smashing of friendships, lies in a quietly dramatic resolution that strains belief to breaking point despite seemingly having little motivational basis.

Even that turns very funny, though; and the universality the play explores in the tensions of give and take in friendships (especially in group friendships); the frequent surprise of humour in a three-way fight between dearest friends; and the consummate performances of all three characters in roles using words to delight the ear make this a joyful production worth riveting yourself to.

John P. Harvey

Image: [L–R] Shane Dundas, Craig Alexander, and Christopher Carroll, in Art.  Photographer: Creswick Collective.