ART, a play by Yasmina Reza

Chenango River Theatre's production of ART by Yasmina Reza (translated by Christopher Hampton). Recorded opening night, August 26, 2022. Archival purposes only; no ownership claimed.
Marc/Drew Kahl
Serge/Zach Curtis
Yvan/ Joey Sponseller
Director/Craig Johnson
Stage Manager/Isabel Mendoza
Set/Justin Hooper
Costumes/Barbara Kahl
Lights/Julie Duro
Sound/Composer/Alex Jashinski
A couple of fun production elements that worked well for us:
1. The flipping paintings -- these turned out nicely as a way to quickly distinguish the different apartments, and especially to accommodate the movement of the white painting. Reza doesn't seem to allow enough dialogue to justify the time that someone might need to move a large, expensive artwork. For me, the flips extend the magical realism.
2. The Mona Lisa & props reveal! There are just a couple props referenced in the script...but, like moving the painting, they always seem to have them immediately. The actors (usually Serge) put the next prop in place so when the sliding door was opened the props magically was on display--almost like a museum vitrine. I like that the Mona Lisa is giving the audience her sly smile--as if to say, "you want art? I'm art."
3. I like the music Alex composed -- we had worked in summerstock the previous summer when he was still in school and it was fun to give him his first professional composition and sound credit. I like the nods to the French National anthem, the Pink Panther theme, and Sunday in the Park With George. Plus, the French have a fondness for American jazz so the saxophone seemed right.

[@tracekillian225]

first time getting to watch this play after years of hearing about it, this was a wonderful step into Yasmina's world, great acting and set design :)

[@Craig4604]

Glad you enjoyed it! I found it to be a sly satire of how we perceive modern art...and a great excavation of friendship--esp. male relationship dynamics.

[@appyle]

Great execution on this. Set design, character development, pacing..dig it!

[@Craig4604]

Thanks so much!

[@agerray]

I originally saw the play in the UK and adored it. Now based in France, I've never seen it on stage but have watched several times the definitive French video with Vaneck, Luchini and Arditi. But I would say your version at the very least, rivals the French version and is maybe even better. That is a huge compliment to the actors and also the set design. I was disappointed that the scene at the beginning where Serge and Mark have a long sequence of exchanging glances had been cut - but that is just a minor criticism and unless you know the original, nobody would realise. Great work.

[@Craig4604]

Thanks so much for the comment and kind words. Glad you enjoyed the video. My buddy Justin Hooper designed the set, and I suggested the flipping paintings and the Mona Lisa prop storage. Very fun to work on. My script didn't have the long silent sequence at the top that you mentioned. Now I want to go back and add that! Thanks again.

[@NeverNotHere]

I think these actors are just right in playing their parts. I am not sure "stage sound" works on a video. Some day I would like to see this with wireless microphones. This play can be quite fast moving. It is a great opportunity for some fast camera work to follow that action. Then a back-up camera with the overview shot that you have would be a safety, if the actors jumped out of the close-up shot. Good sound and close ups would make an exciting performance. I also realize that a stage is not a video set.

[@Craig4604]

Thanks! I totally agree. This is just an archival record of a stage production. Just me and my iPhone. ;)

[@ALIKHANVLOG917]

Nice

[@amazingtheatre1262]

Not sure this play works if all the characters are camped up like this?

[@killboggins]

Clearly it does going by the audience

[@amazingtheatre1262]

@@killboggins I agree that ithey were entertained and you’re right, maybe that’s enough