Thursday, January 14, 1999
Acclaimed play explores dynamics of friendship
THEATER: Veteran actors mix up comedy, drama
to bring Reza’s ‘Art’ alive
By Erin Beatty
Daily Bruin Contributor
Friendships are persistently tested. People who were once best
friends desert their companions over financial disputes, stolen
lovers, neglect and – in the case of Yasmina Reza’s play – art.
The play, appropriately named "Art," opens Jan. 19 at the
UCLA/James A. Doolittle Theater and will run through March 14. Its
three-man cast stars Alan Alda, Victor Garber and Alfred
Molina.
"Art," which originated in Paris, has been produced in over 30
languages and won 1998’s Tony Award for Best Play, as well as
various other awards.
The art in "Art" is a rather large all-white painting, recently
purchased by Serge (Garber), a sophisticated Parisian
dermatologist, for the American equivalent of $40,000. The plot
rotates around the response that Serge receives from his closest
friends, Marc (Alda) and Yvan (Molina) for his purchase.
Molina, who – along with Alda and Garber – opened in the play
when it was first performed on Broadway, claims that the painting
acts as a central metaphor, alerting the three friends to the
fragility of their bond.
In discussing the dynamics of this bond, Molina feels that "The
fact that … this very simple act of buying a painting threatens
the stability of (their) relationship and reveals all the things
that are wrong with the friendship" is the crux of the play.
As in any friendship, the three men each play distinct roles in
the small universe they have created. Serge and Marc are both
professionals, each interested in fine art and literature.
Yvan, on the other hand, is the joker of the group, who lacks
his peers’ pretentiousness. He plays the mediator during Marc’s
attack on Serge and his purchase.
The play moves from the story of the blank canvas to questioning
friendship in general and what it is exactly that brings these
three relatively different men with separate, dissimilar lives
together.
"In effect, the play becomes absolutely nothing to do with the
painting itself," Molina says. "Rather, it’s how one person
behaving in a way that is seemingly out of character can have such
a sort of seismic effect on this friendship, which has been taken
for granted for so long."
During the play, a question arises; what connects these men?
Even though they share occasional interests, the painting breaks
down their barriers, exposing their deepest needs as something much
more substantial and basic than sophisticated artwork. The story
also reveals their deepest fears of being alone.
Although the emotional content of the play is, in fact, quite
serious, the author has subverted this by couching the tragic
collapse of a friendship with humor. This effect is quite potent
because of stark contrast.
The play, though it addresses quite a serious situation, is also
renowned for its hilarity. "Art" won both the 1997 Olivier Award
for Best Comedy and the 1996 Evening Standard Award for Best
Comedy.
"If Ibson had written this play, it would have been perhaps more
serious," Molina suggests.
But Reza took another approach. Often the most serious scenes of
the play are made the most humorous. Characters have intense
breakdowns at their fear of loneliness, but rather than evoke
tears, the scenes bring about laughter.
"My character, for instance, at the end of the play starts to
break down, and rather than give him a painful speech – that’s
precisely what she does, but actually, it’s incredibly funny,"
Molina says with a laugh.
This contrast of laughter and pain has a strange effect on the
audience.
"You can tell the audience loves the humor, but at the same
time, they are feeling so weird by the different meltdowns of the
characters," Molina claims.
Regardless of how weird "Art" makes an audience feel, the play
has achieved considerable success so far and is now on its third
cast on Broadway.
Molina anticipates the play’s transfer to Los Angeles, and hopes
the play is received well in the less theater-oriented
location.
Molina says that he, Alda and Garber decided to stay with the
play for its brief run in Los Angeles because it was so good.
"Good plays are hard to find," Molina says. "All of us have been
doing a lot of film work and stuff, but we’ve all originally come
from the theater. Now and again, you come across a play, and you
just know that you’ve got to do it."
THEATER: "Art" preview performances are currently running
through Jan. 18. Opening night is Jan. 19 and the play runs through
March 14. Tickets are $17.50 to $60. For tickets, call TeleCharge
at (800) 447-7400.CTG
(Left to right) Alan Alda, Alfred Molina and Victor Garber
will recreate their original Broadway roles in Yasmina Reza’s
"Art",
1998’s Tony Award winner for Best Play.
Joan Marcus
(Left to right) Alan Alda, Alfred Molina and Victor Garber.
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