“Art” ★★★★

It’s brilliant, funny and real. “Art,” written by Jasmina Reza, is almost 30 years old now, but hits home for this reviewer in a way most newer “relationship plays” never do. This is a story about male friendship, the way men actually talk, relate, think and act. They are getting older.

They are hotheads, they storm in and out of the room. Each has issues of his own as well as with the other two. But the heart of this story is the strong desire that Marc, Serge and Ivan have to remain friends. 

And it's 1998. It's still a world where you have to be in the same room to fight. No one can send anyone else a nasty text and then ghost him. It feels...refreshing. 

David Sinaiko plays Marc, who feels the way most of us in the audience feel about the painting for which Serge, played by Benoit Morin, has just paid $200,000. Some men, as they hit their forties, take mistresses or buy Porsches. Serge buys a painting, but not just any painting. It is completely white. No frame. No color. A 4' x  5' white rectangle. 

Serge feels it is "art." Marc tells him it's a piece of "shit." 

Meanwhile, Ivan, the third member of the troika, is trying to appease both Marc and Serge. It's not working, primarily because Ivan is being drawn into a marriage he doesn't want and neither do Marc and Serge. This is the one thing about which they can agree.

On the surface, "Art" is about art - what makes it so? Why does an artist's reputation determine its worthiness? And what makes up a friendship? Can you speak the truth, even if it hurts? Does friendship have a frame around it? 

We love the staging of the show along with lights and sound -- the way the characters can break the fourth wall and speak directly to the audience in an echo-y reverb with lights up on the speaker and dimmed on the others. It's effective and funny.

RATINGS: ★★★★

The San Francisco Theater Blog Awards Division gives The Shotgun Players' production of "Art" FOUR STARS, one each for writing, acting, directing (Emilie Whelan) and staging. There is no lead actor-- each member of the ensemble is terrific. We identify most with Marc (David Sinaiko), because, well...he's right about that idiotic painting.

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"Art"

Shotgun Players at Ashby Playhouse

1901 Ashby Avenue, Berkeley

EXTENDED through April 12, 2025

Prices from Pay What You Can to $80