Art paints a funny picture
on Community Center stage Reviewed by Joe Blenkle/Sacramento Stage & Theatre
Jack Willis, Judd Hirsch and Cotter Smith in a
scene from the Tony Award-winning play ART.
Photo by Joan Marcus
ART, playing Nov. 2-7 at Sacramento's Community Center Theater, is a humorous romp through the lives of
three friends as they try to come to grips with a piece of artwork that one of them has purchased.
The simplicity of this play has a lot to do with its humor and charm. The set stays basically the same, except
for a rotating wall that goes from bare to a wall with a picture on it (and no, it's not "the" ART), and maybe a few
moved pieces of furniture.
Set in Paris, France, ART starts out with Marc (Judd Hirsch), one of a trio of friends, visiting Serge (Cotter
Smith) in his apartment. Serge has just purchased a new painting for 200,000 Francs and wants to show it to
Marc. Marc is amazed when Serge brings out what appears to be a totally white piece of canvas. He can't
believe his good friend has had the poor taste to buy this, "white piece of shit."
Marc's reaction to Serge's beloved painting puts a strain on their longtime friendship.
Marc talks to Yvan (Jack Willis) about the painting. Yvan laughs with Marc about Serge's strange behavior and decides he must go see
this painting himself. Oddly enough, Yvan and Serge have a totally different reaction together over the painting. Yvan decides after some
consideration that he likes it, and he, along with Serge, have a good laugh over it. Yvan does not let on, however, that he has already talked
to Marc about the painting. While he shares some of Marc's feelings, he also sympathizes with Serge's passion toward the unusual piece of art.
Finally, when the three get together to go to a movie and dinner, their relationship is strained to the breaking point. Marc refuses to budge
on his feelings toward the painting; Yvan, who shows up late - adding to the strain - tries to play both sides, and both Serge and Marc gang
up on him due to his perpetually indecisive manner.
How the three finally get out of the mess they've put themselves in is one of the highlights of the show and a fitting conclusion to a
humorous evening of ART. The actors engage in a nearly non-stop 90 minutes of dialogue between each other and the production plays
without an intermission.
All three are Broadway veterans and Hirsch, who many remember from his role on TV's TAXI, has earned two Tony Awards for his roles
in I'M NOT RAPPAPORT and CONVERSATIONS WITH MY FATHER. Both Hirsch and Willis have performed in the Broadway version of
ART. The crowd on opening night was a little slow to rise during the trio's initial bows, but they eventually got the ovation they deserved.
ART is a pleasant diversion from the Broadway Series' usual musical fare. Catch it before it leaves town.
ART performs at the Community Center Theater through Nov. 7. Tickets are available at the Broadway Series box office, 1419 H Street
(557-1999); the Community Center box office, 1301 L Street (264-5181) or through BASS Tickets at 766-BASS. Tickets range in price from $10-$55.
Next up for the Broadway Series is TAP DOGS, playing at the Community Center Theater Dec. 28, 1999 through Jan. 2, 2000.Return to Sacramento Stage & Theatre
