THEATRE 
REVIEWS
Art
Theatre Royal York
York
ENGLAND
What can you say?
A painting four foot by five foot, painted white with white diagonal stripes, doesn't sound much, but you wait until you have seen this play and you will change your mind. A beautiful piece of writing by Yasmina Reza, now translated from the French for our enjoyment, losing nothing in the translation to give us Art.
In the frame: Andrew Dunn, Daniel Hill and Stuart Organ
Three talented actors give superb performances as they bring alive this strong friendship among friends with all the trials and tribulations. The centre piece of this play is the painting and how it affects the lives of all who come in contact with it. The three who do, are the buyer of the painting Serge, played by Stuart Organ, his friend Yvan, played by Daniel Hill and other friend Marc, played by Andrew Dunn. They are as different as their clothes signify being black, black and white and white. This all merges with a fitting minimalist set designed by Mark Thompson which allows three changes of venue.
We are presented with dialogue, divided into conversations, which is faultlessly delivered in perfect diction: something rare on the stage these days. All you can say about the actors is again they are superb in their parts and take you with them until suddenly you find you are back where you started and the play is done. All this in one act lasting one hour and forty minutes.
You will enjoy what you have seen, but find it hard to know why this is. You will want more of this masterful writing and once again superb acting. Do not miss this play if it comes anywhere near where you live or beat a trail to the Theatre Royal York. You will enjoy it. © BA
“Art” is at York from the 20th October to the 11th November, 2006 and then touring. This is a No Smoking theatre. Council car parking charge £2 visitor and £1 resident from 6pm until Midnight.
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