For any play with only a few characters, success relies not only on brilliance of text but also the star magnetism of its actors -- and personal touch of its director. It's not enough to have "talented" actors. In 1996, London audiences embraced Albert Finney, Tom Courtney and the lesser-known Ken Stott. Superstar Sean Connery is co-producer of the still-running West End production, which garnered critical accolades and walked off with all of London's 1998 theatre awards. The Broadway version was blessed by another all-star cast: Victor Garber (expatriate Canadian), Alan Alda and Alfred Molina. Again, numerous theatre awards, including many Tonys, were bestowed on Art for best play, best comedy, best performances.
Art premiered in Berlin in 1994, moved to Paris, the playwright's home base, receiving two coveted Moliere Awards and was translated into more than 20 languages! The premiere English-Canadian production -- co-produced by Winnipeg's Manitoba Theatre Centre and Toronto's Mirvish Productions - now presents an all-Canadian cast, featuring Scott Hylands as the critical Marc, Stephen Ouimette as the fence-sitting Yvan and Richard Poe reviving his role as the modern art-loving Serge from a recent Chicago production. However, the results are lacklustre. Art was inspired by the playwright's real life experience and tweaks societal attitudes about contemporary art and contemporary relations between heterosexual men. Their caring friendship is challenged when one of them pays an exorbitant price for an all-white painting the others deem "a piece of shit."
Humor and pathos erupts as the three yuppie buddies come to terms with hitherto unrealized sensibilities. Derisive laughter gives way to tears from the defensive and disillusioned Serge. A dozen known productions are onstages in Europe, and a national touring company in the U.S.
This less-than-exhilarating Canadian production will also play the Royal Poinciana Playhouse, Palm Beach, Florida, Jan. 11 to 23, and the Parker Playhouse, Fort Lauderdale, Jan. 25 to Feb. 13, 2000. Further U.S. dates pending at press time.
