Remy Bumppo Theatre Company presents ART.
Serge bought an expensive painting. Marc tells his friend that the acquisition was stupid. When Marc asks, Yvan agrees the purchase is laughable. Later at Serge’s, Yvan voices an appreciation for the art. At the center of Yasmina Reza’s play, translated to English by Christopher Hampton, is a white painting. The minimalist look sparks complex controversy between longtime friends. Is the painting the real issue? Or is it what the painting represents? Is the friendship strain worth arguing over a picture? Or are these three friends out of the picture?
Reza/Hampton penned razor-sharp dialogue in this friendship deconstruction. Under the masterful direction of Marti Lyons, life unfolds onstage. The conversations feel organic. The relationships seem real. And this ideal ensemble, Justin Albinder (Marc), Chad Bay (Serge) and Eduardo Curley (Yvan), engage in a very humanistic way. A pretentious Bay reveals his new painting. A contentious Albinder comes in hot. And a hilarious Curley attempts to straddle between the personalities and emotions. The dynamics are legit. These guys are working out their problems in real time.
Lyons puts the audience in the room. Designer Lauren M. Nichols mimics the art with an elegant yet shades-of-pale room. The color in the show is the vivid exchanges between the threesome. Unexplored conflict quickly goes beyond the art to create palpable tension. Some of the disputes sound petty like a hand gesture by a girlfriend. Other clashes appear unsurmountable. The personal disdain is uncomfortably apparent. Thankfully as the drama escalates, the explosive unraveling is peppered with amusing sidebars and witty quips.
Does life imitate art? Or does art imitate life? This ART feels like real life. We know these friends…. maybe we are these friends! ART puts long-time friendships on the easel and forces us to consider what are we looking at.
Running Time: Eighty-five minutes with no intermission.
At Theater Wit, 1229 W. Belmont
Written by Yasmina Reza
Translated by Christopher Hampton
Directed by Marti Lyons
Performances are:
Thursdays, Fridays & Saturdays at 7:30 PM
Sundays at 2:30 PM
Additional performances May 10, 17, 22, 31 at 2:30pm
Thru June 1
For more information or tickets
Production photos by Nomee Photography
For more Chicago theatre information and reviews, please visit Theatre in Chicago