Playwright Steven Dietz is to be commended for tackling the myths and legends surrounding renowned artist, Vincent Van Gogh. In creating this odd work about Van Gogh's life and his legacy, Dietz strays from the biographical to the fantastical. Inventing Van Gogh moves back and forth through time, pairing contemporary angst with that suffered by artists in the late 1800s.
As the play opens (to the sound of fluttering birds and waving wheat), a modern painter is staring at a blank canvas. The painter is disheveled. He works upstairs in a condemned warehouse. He drinks, smokes, curses and paces, always looking at the blank canvas. This particular painter, Patrick Stone (Brian Vaughn), need not worry about summoning his muse, however. Very soon he'll be seeing -- and talking to -- Vincent Van Gogh. At first, it's an awkward acquaintance. But after awhile, they practically become buddies. "Gotta hand it to you, Vinnie," Patrick says. "Your work sells." When Van Gogh learns how much his paintings are worth in the 21st Century, he nearly falls off his stool.
The play conjures characters both real and mythical. From Van Gogh's era, there's Dr. Gachet (Jonathan Smoots), his daughter Marguerite (Kirsten Potter), and Paul Gauguin (Mark Corkins). Let's face it; they are far more interesting than their modern-day, made-up counterparts. Dietz is not content to debunk some myths about Van Gogh. Not without substituting other mysteries in their places. The play tries to be "hip" and no doubt will appeal to younger audiences. Brian Vaughn as Patrick spends much of the production observing and listening. The scenes with his mentor's daughter are confusing; the scenes with a corrupt art dealer are lackluster. In fact, the modern plot is silly and unconvincing. The best segments are easily the ones in the 1800s, between Van Gogh (Torrey Hanson, convincingly portraying the great artist) and Gauguin (Mark Corkins, who gives an equally fine performance). One highlight is the slow unveiling of Van Gogh's work. As Van Gogh props up each canvas, one is overwhelmed by the sheer genius of this man.
Inventing Van Gogh walks a fine line between honoring the artist and humanizing the man. Sometimes, it works.
