The Art of True Friendship

L-R: Richard Sandle-Keyne as Yvan, Roger Ganner as Serge and Christopher Dobson as Marc. Photo by Chris Clarke.

ART by Yasmina Reza translated by Christopher Hampton, and directed by Lynda Lewis, playing at The Bear Pit, Stratford-upon-Avon from 23 – 27 April.

Review by Ann Evans

It’s not surprising to learn that French dramatist, novelist, director and actor Yasmina Reza’s play, Art, is the recipient of many prestigious awards since it premiered in 1994. Amongst them, it’s won Molière Awards for best author, play, and production; a British Laurence Olivier Award for best comedy; and a Tony Award for best play.

Art is the story of three best friends of many years: Marc played by Christopher Dobson, Serge played by Roger Ganner and Yvan played by Richard Sandle-Keyne. However, their friendship is pushed to the limits when Serge buys a massively expensive piece of modern art. And while he sees this large white canvas as a treasure to be admired and appreciated, Marc sees it in a completely different light and doesn’t hold back in telling his friend so.

Serge places his valuable masterpiece while Yvan contemplates his forthcoming marriage. Photo by Chris Clarke.

Their conversations about modern art become more and more heated and increasingly more personal. It’s the start of the disintegration of a long-established friendship. Both men are hurt by the other’s lack of understanding. Every comment is picked on by the other as they each take offence at words spoken and even the intonation of how a word is said. Old grievances are dragged up and new resentments come to light.  Meanwhile, the third friend, Yvan, who really doesn’t care one way or the other if Serge has wasted his money, is stuck in the middle between this quarrelling twosome.

Serge played by Roger Ganner. Photo by Chris Clarke.

Yvan has problems of his own – he is due to get married and female in-laws, step-mothers and his fiancé are using him as a proverbial punchbag. In one scene he turns up at Serge’s apartment after a particularly stressful episode over the phone with the females in his life.  He starts to tell Serge and Marc what was said – which leads into the longest and most frantic unbroken piece of dialogue that I’ve heard outside of a monologue! His friends are stunned into silence as his painfully emotional rant builds momentum taking him above and beyond boiling point. The audience’s spontaneous applause when he finally talks himself to a standstill is well deserved.

Yvan (Richard Sandle-Keyne) reaches breaking point. Photo by Chris Clarke.

And poor Yvan goes through the wringer again when Serge and Marc – in an effort to score points against each other, target Yvan with their brutal verbal onslaught.  And as Yvan finally buckles beneath the stress, I’m sure everyone in that audience could have reached out and given him a hug. Brilliant acting from Richard Sandle-Keyne.

And fine acting from Roger Ganner and Christopher Dobson whose relationship transitions from best friends to sworn enemies. This in turn makes the collapse of their friendship even more tragic. It would appear there’s no coming back after all that’s been said and done.

Marc played by Christopher Dobson. Photo by Chris Clarke.

It might sound as if this play is a tragedy but in fact it is extremely funny. Not funny in a punchline kind of way where everyone laughs at the same moment. Rather, it seemed as if people were laughing at different incidents, different lines and different gestures as the action and speech on stage touched each person in a different and personal way to them as individuals.

Great performances by these three actors, and the applause that went on long after they had taken their final bow and left the stage was truly well deserved.

If there are tickets still available, I heartily recommend you book yours and treat yourself to a wonderful evening's entertainment: https://www.thebearpit.org.uk/whats-on/art/