| ‘Art’
A Review by Geraldine Inoa
William Penn High School
Consider: middle aged humor combined with modern art and the exploration of male friendship. The results of this uninspired combination culminated into the 90-minute production of ‘Art’ at the Delaware Theatre Company. This hour and a half production attempted to evaluate the friendship between three friends – Yvan, Serge, and Marc – while debating over modern art, but instead provides an hour and half of unamusing whining and pointless bickering with jokes and humor tailored for a much older audience.
My problems with the show began early on. Perhaps it was the prolonged bit over Marc’s first reaction over the painting his friend has just recently purchased for a whopping sum. Marc just stands, switches positions and stares at the painting, “examining from different angles” in silence – the audience burst into laughter. While the audience’s laughter rolled on and on and on for probably minutes, I sat disillusioned and bored, turning to my party and saying, “ I don’t get it.” I should have known from that moment what was in store. But against natural instincts, I stayed and finished the production, remembering it was only an hour and half. After an hour I received my answer and wondered if the playwright did not include an intermission for fear that people would leave. Still in the back of my head, the theatre enthusiast inside me yearned for me to like it whispering, “How much worse could it get?”
But then the arguing began. And did not cease. Pointless circular conversations that lead back to the same point where characters repeated themselves over and over, shouted profanities, and showed their erratic sides. The dialogue was so pretensions interjected words like ameba, conciliatory and monastic every other sentence. I felt like I was at a SAT Prep class. But thanks to ‘Art’, I’m sure my verbal has increased at least 50 points! Also, it did not only not make me laugh, it provided insight to these characters. Truthfully, these characters were egotistical, self-centered, arrogant, obnoxious, pretensions, and made a negligible impression on you. Except for your natural disdain for them, you could not care less what happened to them. To quote Marc, you just sat there wondering, “What bound you to sit through the rest of production?”
Not even the fact the original play was French, for I am a diehard Francophile, could salvage the production for me. Personally, I blame the translation, this means you Christopher Hampton. I found the material problematic. However, much credit must be given to the wonderful set designer, Sharri Jerue, for envisioning such an abstract set that captivated the eye. Kudos must be given to Pete Pryor, James Michael Reilly, Stephen Patrick Martin for demonstrated such wonderful acting through such awful material. Even David Stradley deserves praise for the production. Through the dreadful script, there were moments where you could tell Stradley took liberties. These were the few moments that made ‘Art’ tolerable. Yet, these moments were far and few between. It’s a shame such talent gone astray.
So the play that revolves around a white canvas with a white background and white lines through it, I can still hear Serge screeching, “It’s not white!” left feeling me just as bland as the painting. Although the audience loved it and demonstrated their entertainment by laughing, I was left isolated by my disdain. If I ever did meet Yasmina Reza, I’d have many questions to pose about her play, ‘Art’. But one praise I will have to give her is for only making it 90 minutes.
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