On the surface, “Art”, by French playwright Yasmina Reza, could be seen as a light-hearted comedy about a man who spends a fortune on a blank painting. The play is much more than that, however, exploring the intricate relationship of three men who express their affection for each other through hateful comments and accusations. Their friendship is tumultuous, fierce and, in this latest production by Derby Shakespeare Company, fascinating to watch.
The play kicks off with Serge (Adam Hodgson) buying a white painting for several hundred thousand Francs. Serge insists that the painting is more than just white – there’s greys and pinks and lines – much to the annoyance of his friend Marc (Ian Currie). An argument between the pair ensues, with third man Yvan (Matt Swan) caught in the middle.
From the outset, all three characters are very clearly drawn by the actors. Serge is pretentious but playful, clearly relishing pushing Marc’s buttons, whilst Marc is short-tempered – although it is clear that his outbursts are out of affection for Serge rather than serious anger.
Yvan is gullible and whiny, and Swan excels at making him the most likable of the three. Towards the end of act one, Swan delivers a particularly memorable monologue in which Yvan catastrophises his impending wedding and relationship with his soon-to-be-in-laws. The reaction (or lack thereof) of Marc and Serge only serves to make the entire episode even more funny.
Reza’s clever dialogue means there is rarely a moment goes by without a laugh from the audience. The play is mostly set in Serge’s living room, but under the expert direction Alan Smith, never feels stagnant or slow. The climax of the play, which I shall not spoil here, perfectly wraps up this neat little story thanks to a little foreshadowing from a felt-tip pen.
This was the first production I have seen by the Derby Shakespeare Company, and I cannot wait to see more. Far from bland, this is truly a work of “Art”.
Tom Morley, November 2023
“Art” continues to tour throughout November, visiting Loughborough, Milton and Melbourne. See Derby Shakespeare Facebook page for more details.
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