May 17th, 2011
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Author: Let me get right to the point — I loved this play and this production by Act II Playhouse. Let that be known as I am about to be quite effusive about it.
The play kicks off with the reactions of three friends to the purchase of a minimalist piece of art, bought by one of them, for a ton of money. But from there, it explores the relationship among men as few others I’ve ever seen on the stage.
What is the substance of male friendship? What challenges it? What do men really think? In “Art,” we are repeatedly subjected to face-offs, to duels between two guys at a time. We are almost ready for them to draw their weapons.
We see the catty talk behind each other’s back. We see the intensity of each man’s beliefs as we experience their pain — all amid a level of intellectualism that is mind-bending. Perhaps, we might even ask ourselves if men are that different from women.
Mark can be prissy at one moment, but we recognize how brilliant a man he is. Ivan, the most easygoing of the three, is comic, but we see the angst he is feeling both with his friends and in his personal life. And Serge’s forcefulness, his penetrating stares, with his stoic face and his determination, keeps us riveted on his reaction.
But in fact, our eyes are revolving about the stage as fast as the dialogue, as we listen to each and watch the reactions of all. The play builds and builds to crescendos and we wonder if it has anywhere else to go, then it finds a new area, a higher height to explore.
Yasmina Reza has written a little masterpiece. Yes,Yasmina Reza — the same woman who won the Olivier and Tony Awards for “God of Carnage.” In fact, “Art” also won those awards and the New York Drama Critics Circle Award for best play. I will not push it to say that it takes a woman to see so deeply into the hearts and minds of men, but she sure has touched so many buttons.
But this play also succeeds because of the brilliant ensemble of Tony Braithwaite, Ian Merrill Peakes and Pete Pryor. The rhythm among these three outstanding actors — the pacing, the timing — is so good, you forget about those elements and just get lost inside the action. For a play so full of words, the bombardments at one another are breathtaking. One minute, I find myself saying “oh no,” and the next, I am laughing uncontrollably out loud.
Friendship?! Wow! Kudos to director Bud Martin for harnessing all these elements into a great piece of theater. I told you I liked this play.
“Art”
continues
at Act II Playhouse,
56 E. Butler Ave., Continued…
Let me get right to the point — I loved this play and this production by Act II Playhouse. Let that be known as I am about to be quite effusive about it.
The play kicks off with the reactions of three friends to the purchase of a minimalist piece of art, bought by one of them, for a ton of money. But from there, it explores the relationship among men as few others I’ve ever seen on the stage.
What is the substance of male friendship? What challenges it? What do men really think? In “Art,” we are repeatedly subjected to face-offs, to duels between two guys at a time. We are almost ready for them to draw their weapons.
We see the catty talk behind each other’s back. We see the intensity of each man’s beliefs as we experience their pain — all amid a level of intellectualism that is mind-bending. Perhaps, we might even ask ourselves if men are that different from women.
Mark can be prissy at one moment, but we recognize how brilliant a man he is. Ivan, the most easygoing of the three, is comic, but we see the angst he is feeling both with his friends and in his personal life. And Serge’s forcefulness, his penetrating stares, with his stoic face and his determination, keeps us riveted on his reaction.
But in fact, our eyes are revolving about the stage as fast as the dialogue, as we listen to each and watch the reactions of all. The play builds and builds to crescendos and we wonder if it has anywhere else to go, then it finds a new area, a higher height to explore.
Yasmina Reza has written a little masterpiece. Yes,Yasmina Reza — the same woman who won the Olivier and Tony Awards for “God of Carnage.” In fact, “Art” also won those awards and the New York Drama Critics Circle Award for best play. I will not push it to say that it takes a woman to see so deeply into the hearts and minds of men, but she sure has touched so many buttons.
But this play also succeeds because of the brilliant ensemble of Tony Braithwaite, Ian Merrill Peakes and Pete Pryor. The rhythm among these three outstanding actors — the pacing, the timing — is so good, you forget about those elements and just get lost inside the action. For a play so full of words, the bombardments at one another are breathtaking. One minute, I find myself saying “oh no,” and the next, I am laughing uncontrollably out loud.
Friendship?! Wow! Kudos to director Bud Martin for harnessing all these elements into a great piece of theater. I told you I liked this play.
“Art”
continues
at Act II Playhouse,
56 E. Butler Ave.,
Ambler, PA 19002,
Through June 5.
Tickets: $27 – $33.
Info: 215-654-0200.
or www. act2.org.
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