'Art' at East Riding Theatre, Beverley is a MUST SEE!

For a one-act play of 90 minutes (which seems like only 45, it is so engrossing) there is a LOT going on and a LOT of dialogue! All credit to the three actors, Richard Avery, Malcolm Tomlinson and Clive Kneller, who make the words of the play so real and thought-provoking.

Malcolm Tomlinson plays the rakish Serge. Serge, very proudly, buys an all-white painting for £100,000.  We see him examining the painting from a variety of view-points as if he is an expert painter -come- art-critic. His friend, Marc (Richard Avery) is appalled  when he sees the painting, especially so when Serge tells him he is viewing it from the wrong angle!! But why is his reaction so extreme? After all, it isn't his money which is being spent! Which leads us to query as to why Marc has responded as he has - is it because he thinks Serge has been ripped off, because the painting isn't really a painting, because the price paid was way too high, or because of some deeper reason to do with the value of friendship and honesty? Are 'white lies' necessary to keep friendship alive?

Serge and Marc's friend Yvan (Clive Kneller) seems to constantly change his mind about the picture, but that's because he is obsessed, not by the picture as Serge and Marc are, but by his forthcoming wedding. He has the funniest lines, which are met with disregard by his two colleagues. You do sometimes wonder why these three men are friends at all! Their day-jobs are very different - Serge is a dermatologist, Marc an engineer and Yvan a stationery salesman and although there are hints about Marc and Serge, there seems to be nothing to really connect the three. 

All credit must go to Director Martin Hutson who has reimagined this play, which has, in the past starred such charismatic actors as Rufus Sewell, Paul Ritter and Tim Key; Stephen Tomkinson, Denis Lawson and Nigel Havers; Alan Alda, Victor Garber and Alfred Molina with Albert Finney, Tom Courtenay and Ken Stott in the first English-language production. Malcolm, Richard and Clive are equally as charismatic! They are perfectly able to convey the complex relationship between the three friends - probably because they are friends in real life.

Although spoken in English (with local accents), Martin echoes the French heritage of the play with a nod to French design in the (all-white) set (designed and built by Ed Ullyart) and the chansons playing as the audience enter the small, intimate theatre. The new lighting rig at the theatre is used to full effect by Lighting Designer Simon Bedwell, to highlight the whiteness of the canvass as well as to draw the audience in. 

There is irony in the play, too, in that whiteness traditionally represents purity whereas the relationship between these men is anything but pure. Here life reflects 'Art'. Everyone has an opinion, their own biases and philosophies - should we keep them to ourselves to uphold a relationship? In which case, if we do keep our opinions to ourselves, does the value of the relationship become diminished? 

Do go and see this riveting play! I promise you will never share a bowl of olives again without thinking about Serge, Marc and Yvan and the nature of friendship. Beverley is so lucky to have such talented actors in its midst and to attract someone like Martin Hutson to direct them. 

'Art' runs at East Riding Theatre until October 20th. Tickets are available at www.eastridingtheatre.co.uk, by calling 01482 874050 or in person.