How much would you pay for a white painting?
Would it matter who the painter was?
Would it be art?
In “Art,” opening tonight at the Newport Theatre Arts Center, one of Marc’s (Tom Gilber) best friends, Serge (Cort Huckabone), has just bought a very expensive painting. It’s about 5 by 4 feet, all white, with white diagonal lines.
To Marc, the painting is a joke, but Serge insists Marc doesn’t have the proper standard to judge the work. Another friend, Ivan (David Colley), though burdened by his own problems, allows himself to be pulled into this disagreement.
Eager to please, Ivan tells Serge he likes the painting. Lines are drawn and these old friends square off over the canvas, using it as an excuse to relentlessly batter one another over various failures.
As their arguments become less theoretical and more personal, they border on destroying their friendships. At the breaking point, Serge hands Marc a felt tip pen and dares him: Go on.
This is where the friendship is finally tested, and the aftermath of action, and its reaction, affirms the power of those bonds.
“Art,” written by Yasmina Reza, originally in French, was translated into English by Christopher Hamption and had a 600-performance run on Broadway in the late a’90s, winning the Tony Award for best play.
“Art” is directed by Gigi Fusco Meese and produced by Rae Cohen. Set design is by Andrew Otero.
“Art” will run through Oct. 21. Tickets $15. Visit ntaconline.com or call 949-631-0288.
