Art by Yasmina Reza

My husband and I went to see the Curtainbox Theatre Co.'s production of Art by Yasmina Reza. I had never read this play before, so I really had no idea what to expect.

It was fantastic.

The script is very intelligently written, and it really gives you a lot to think about between the humorous, fast-paced dialog and the sudden asides given by each character. What values are portrayed in the ending (or demolished in the ending, depending on what you deem "valuable"), really depend on your own interpretations of the comedic arguments and your own experiences with art--and really, isn't that what gives art meaning, anyhow?

The plot is very simple--a man buys a painting that is basically white, with some grayish lines that can be seen if you squint in just the right way. I was very pleased to find that I could see the lines myself if I squinted from my seat in the audience. One friend of the man is upset by the amount of money paid for what he thinks is "shit." Another friend tends to agree with the person he is speaking with at the moment. The question comes into play, "Will this piece of art tear apart the relationships of these three characters?"

All three actors were superb and masters of their craft. Adam Michael Lewis, especially, stood out to me (and not just because he taught a class on stage make-up that I took for college credit) as his movements and difficult lines were delivered with ease. His vocal work is superb for displaying a range of dimensions to his character, and for mastering that comedic timing that anyone who has ever worked in comedy knows is so hard to master.

Mike Shulz was also impressive, and after reading so many of his reviews in the River Cities Reader, it was fun to see the man at work in performance. He had lines with strange words that aren't used in everyday conversation, but these words and lines came out of his mouth in the most natural of ways. It was only an after-thought that I questioned such lines showing up in real-life conversation.

Aaron Randolph III also proved to be talented beyond words. If I didn't know any better, I would have guessed the role was written with him in mind. He provided a beautiful contrast to the other two characters, and his nervous movements made me feel as if he was the most human of the characters.

Between the great acting and blocking, the three characters were distinct and unique, each one containing its own depth that can't be revealed in dialog alone. The intimate space of The Village Theatre puts you right into the action and makes you feel as if you're in on this big joke and the actors are actually confiding their deepest thoughts and feelings to you.

This was a very fine, professional production, and I would definitely recommend it.