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Theatre listings >
Art
- Scottish Premiere.
First performed in 1994 at the Comédie des Champs-Elyées,
Paris.
This production presented by arrangement with David Pugh and Sean Connery.
Playwright - Yasmina Reza.
English Tranlator - Christopher Hampton.
Director - Kenny Ireland.
Set Designer - Mark Thompson.
Lighting Designer - Chris Davey.
Company - Royal Lyceum Theatre Company.
Cast - here.
Tour Starts at Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh
www.lyceum.org.uk
for on line booking.
0131 248 4848 Grindlay St off Lothian Rd to left of Usher Hall.
Dates at this venue.
15 Feb - 8 March 2003 Tuesday - Saturday at 7.45pm Matinee Performances:
Wednesdays 26 February & 5 March; Saturdays 22 February 1 & 8
March; and Sunday 2 March at 2.30pm.
Rest of Tour Dates and Times - here.
Seen to review at Royal Lyceum Theatre.
Run Time - 1 hours 15 mins no Interval.
Reviewer - David Stanners.
Little statements take on big meanings.
Art - Royal Lyceum TheatreProduction.
Marc, Andy Gray, Serge, James Macpherson and Yvan,
Forbes Masson.
© Douglas McBride 2003.
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What is art? What are friendships? Yasmina Reza's Art cuts deep
into the heart of these questions with a razor sharp scalpel, opening
up the lives of three male friends stuck in a quandary over a piece of
art.
Serge is a wealthy dermatologist and shows it by purchasing an all white
painting for 200,000 francs.(£20,000) Marc is first to react, with
the profound insight, "What's this shit?" Speaking for the masses,
his reaction is understandable. 99% of the non-art world would surely
agree. But Serge's quick to fight his corner, diving in with a lecture
to Marc over the apparent shades and contours of white, or is it grey?
Yvan is the third party. Stuck in the middle playing devil's advocate,
he soon becomes the whipping boy caught between a verbal tug of war. Indifferent
to Serge's pricey white canvas, he's stretched by both sides to make a
decision. Marc slates him as a "lightweight without opinions."
The painting becomes an accessory to a deeper confrontation between all
three, revealing the core of their identity and friendship. Little statements
take on big meanings - as in true friendships, arguments over nothing
ensue. At times the whole thing borders on melodrama, with Yvan bursting
into tears, incessantly tugged and pulled by the other two. At times you
want to shout, grow up the lot of you.
How does it translate from a French script and concept into a Scottish
production? For a start it's hard to imagine three Scotsmen sitting around
a beige minimalist room discussing the merits of modern art without a
hint of booze. You're just waiting for the cans to make their debut. In
France however, it's somehow more feasible. A bourgeoisie driven less
by alcohol than by art.
Despite the oddity in cultural idioms, Kenny Ireland does a reasonable
job of holding the reins. Forbes Masson's Yvan is at times slightly
overwrought but is good as the buffer/verbal punch bag. James Macpherson
as Serge, whether intentionally or not, is every bit the arrogant
and indomitable advocate of abstract art's place in the modern world.
Outside of his Panto clobber, Andy Gray is hard to take seriously
at first. Marc has a hint of Gray's trademark idiot panto laugh. But his
characterisation provides the perfect counter balance, bouncing hard off
Serge with equal diatribe.
Whether you'd pay £20,000 for a canvas is only a part of Reza's
overall message. The validity of modern art in society is an interesting
question posed through a witty script, but in the end it makes no difference.
The underlying themes are how far can you push a friend? How strong is
an opinion? Is deference weakness or diplomacy? It's up to you.
© David Stanners 15 February 2003. - Published on EdinburghGuide.com
Cast:
Marc - Andy Gray, Serge - James Macpherson and Yvan - Forbes Masson
Tour dates for Royal Lyceum Theatre's production
of Art
Tour begins
14 Feb - 15 March
at various times not Mon in Edinburgh's Royal Lyceum details see Edinburgh
pages. 0131 248 4848.
18 - 22 March at 7:30pm Wed & Sat at 2:30pm at Glasgow
King's Theatre 0141 240 1111.
25 - 29 March at 7:30pm Wed & Sat at 2:30pm at Aberdeen
His Majesty's Theatre 01224 641122.
Tour Ends.
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