"ART" is for Everyone

By Jana Pollack, New Rep Reviewer

Yazmina Reza’s 'ART' is a brilliant piece of writing. It is a playwright’s play: whip-smart from start to finish, each line deliberate and, well, artful. It follows three middle-aged male friends as they are systematically torn apart by a disagreement over a painting – over what is really art and what it’s worth. Of course, the fight is really about what they’ve been through and what they owe each other, but a newly-purchased white canvas is the catalyst for these cataclysmic discussions.

New Rep gives 'ART' the performance it deserves. Doug Lockwood, Robert Pemberton, and Robert Walsh (as Yvan, Marc, and Serge, respectively) are all powerful performers and a huge amount of fun to watch. So much of the language in 'ART' talks around the point, which could grow tiring in the wrong hands; however, the physicality and comic timing of each actor make it mesmerizing, almost like watching a game of tennis as the power shifts again and again.

The technical aspects of this production are also noteworthy for their contributions to the storytelling. Justin Townsend’s set and lighting are clean and clear, leaving room for the dialogue to do all of the mucking around. David Remedios’ sound design also adds to the complete feeling of the production (as well as getting a few well-deserved laughs).

This is a joy to watch. It raises questions about why we choose the friends we do and why we keep them around; about what kind of people gravitate towards what kind of people and why. It is also simply a riot a whole lot of the time (a major highlight is Yvan’s frantic rant about the women in his life, which drove the audience to applause). This is a great play performed with greatness. 'ART' is for everyone.