|  | A hit in London and Paris, the story has been translation into 20 languages around the world, written by Yamina Reza this version was translated into English by Christopher Hampton. Serge (Christopher Cazenove) is a modern art enthusiast who spends a huge sum of money on a modern painting - a white canvas, painted white with faint white diagonals. When he shows his new purchase to his friend Marc (John Duttine), the meaning of painting is lost on him. Marc is a classicist and cannot see the beauty or meaning of modern art, in particular this piece of "white shit". This leads to a great argument as the two debate the age-old question 'what is art?'. Serge shows the piece to another friend, Yvan (Les Dennis) who doesn't seem to hold an opinion of his own, he happily agrees with everyone, wanting everyone to get along and besides he is pre-occupied with his impending marriage. The play is set in each of the friend's minimalist flats. A huge white screen and three white chairs, each very different in style, is the backdrop to the argument which gets more heated, and more personal, and not about art at all. An enjoyable hour and twenty minutes and a good all round performance from the cast, although it was not as sharp as I had expected there was some real laugh out loud moments. A must see for anyone who's ever asked the question - 'what is art?'.
Art runs at the Liverpool Playhouse until 22 November 2003, 7.30pm.
Tickets are priced £20, concessions from £6 available from the Box Office on 0151 709 4776 |
