‘Art’

Bridge Theatre Company arrives on the scene with ‘Art.’

By: Stuart Duncan
   There’s a new theater group in the area, and attention must be paid.
   The Bridge Theatre Company is offering its current production on the second floor of a fitness club in Lambertville, a temporary home, to be sure, while it searches for a permanent site. The show is Art, Yasmina Reza’s thought-provoking short play (90 minutes) that has been widely and wildly popular. Expect an evening stylish, sophisticated and controversial — a short, serious work disguised as a clever comedy.
   On the surface the play is about art, more specifically, modern versus traditional. Serge, a modernist who is really a dilettante, has bought a painting for 200,000 Euros. It is pure white: white background with a couple of white lines running through it. Serge clearly seeks justification for the purchase. The artist is well known and Serge claims to be able to sell it for a profit.
   Marc, a classicist who’s really a snob underneath, sees the painting and immediately questions its value. Another friend, Yvan, an art-naif who goes whichever way the wind blows, claims to be too busy with forthcoming wedding plans to pass judgment. The friendship of the trio, apparently firm for 15 years, seems threatened by the piece of art.
   And so the play is about much more than modern versus classic art. Playwright Reza’s dialogue is fireworks itself, although Christopher Hampton may well be credited with more than translating the work from French to English. Hampton is a writer of considerable prowess. Also, there are enough pauses and gaps for talented actors and a clever director (Douglas Zschiegner) to find insights and laughs amid the moments of contemplation.
   The 90 minutes unfold in a series of blackouts that sometimes seem closer to brownouts — a series of conversations that lay bare the inner consciences of the three men and truly test their friendship. There is a major flaw in the work — it is difficult to understand exactly why these three personalities would ever develop such a longstanding friendship. But, once this premise is accepted, the evening is great fun.
   Playwright Reza has written that she originally intended to produce a tragedy and was surprised when early audiences insisted on laughing. The humor in this exciting production might really shock her.
   Director Zschiegner has a cast that plumbs the script to much greater effect than previously seen, far surpassing the national touring company that stopped in at Paper Mill Playhouse in Millburn a few seasons ago. Bob McCartin, as Marc, wields a two-sided verbal sword, both as classicist and snob. Steve Kolbo, as Serge, muddies the line between modernist and dilettante just enough to permit a graceful ending. And Brett Marston, as Yvan, steals the show with a stirring portrayal, highlighted by a tour de force monologue in which he takes on his family, his bride’s family and most of the citizenry of Paris.
   Now if only the group can find a home.
Art plays through July 31 at Studio 3, Center Club, 80 Lambert Lane, Lambertville. Performances: Fri.-Sat. 8 p.m., July 25, 2 p.m. For information, call (215) 862-6115.