‘Art’
Director Dr Douglas Wilson reports on the Term III senior drama production, performed in the Palladium Theatre on 20 – 22 July.
While the decline of a friendship doesn’t sound like particularly promising material for a comedy, the global success of French playwright Yasmina Reza’s ‘Art’ has certainly proved otherwise. Telling the story of three friends whose bonds become strained by the simple fact that one of them has spent a very large amount of money on a painting which is nothing more than a white canvas, the play manages to push in seemingly opposite directions: on the one hand it reflects with some sadness on the way that individuals gradually drift away from one another; on the other hand it delights in the consequences of its own ingenious plot device, constantly forcing its characters into an absurd conflict over the whiteness of white.
Left to right: Felix Power (VI) as Marc, Charlie Carroll (V) as Yvan and Harvey Abrahams (VI) as Serge
This interweaving of conflict and comedy makes great demands of the cast, and the resounding success of this particular production owes much to the considerable talent and dedication of its three actors. As art-lover Marc, whose purchase of the white canvas triggers the play’s narrative, Felix Power (VI) managed to give his character both a brittle aloofness and an awkward sociability; as alienated friend Serge, mercurial Harvey Abrahams (VI) made the most of his many comic opportunities but was still able to create a credible sense of dark edginess; and, as earnest people-pleaser Yvan, Charlie Carroll (V) garnered the audience’s sympathy through his endearing, almost child-like openness.
These impressive actors relied on their skill and experience to bring these distinct characters to life and to exercise careful control of the show’s constantly shifting tone and mood. Less immediately obvious, perhaps, was the enormous amount of work they had had to do to learn the hundreds of lines that fill out an hour and a half of stage time when it’s only shared between three characters. To achieve all this on top of the usual demands of lessons, homework and co-curricular activities is a remarkable feat in itself.
‘Art’ had many highlights – the nasty exchanges of insults, the touchingness of the play’s last lines, an actual fight, comically awkward silences, the oddness of collective olive eating, a cheeky sketch on a white canvas – but perhaps the most memorable moment was Yvan’s massive monologue – a speech that, in the Friday performance, prompted the audience to erupt into applause not once but twice. Given that this moment was, by necessity, the product of careful and constant preparation, it is a fitting symbol of the excellence these boys brought to the Grammar stage.
Sydney Grammar School
College Street, Darlinghurst
NSW 2010 Australia
Phone: (02) 9332 5800
Edgecliff Preparatory School
Alma Street, Paddington
NSW 2021 Australia
Phone: (02) 9366 0100
St Ives Preparatory School
Ayres Rd, St Ives
NSW 2075 Australia
Phone: (02) 8302 5200
