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From April 12 to 14, the Boston College Dramatics Society presented Art in the Bonn Studio theater. The play is the Tony Award-, Olivier-, and Molière Award-winning drama by famed French playwright Yasmina Reza.
The central conflict emerges in the beginning of the play when Serge, one of the main characters, buys a contemporary piece of artwork that was designed by an artist named Antrios in the '70s. The painting, which is nothing more than a "white painting with white lines," costs an astonishing $133,000 and is detested by Serge's best friend Marc, who enters into a disagreement with him. Serge takes this move so personally that he treats it as an attack against friendship. Along the way, a third friend, Evan, is dragged unwillingly into the conflict.
The themes of the play are perfect for a college audience, especially for graduating seniors, as the questions of friendship and temporality are raised.
Of Evan Marc says: "Evan is a very tolerable guy, which of course when it comes to a relationship is the worst thing that you can be." Evan is a character who is seen as weak because he cannot tell the truth, which, as revealed by Reza, is a timeless necessity of all friendships.
Evan knows that the truth is brutal and has the ability to poison. Through Evan, we learn the value of holding firm opinions and infusing friendships with the proper amount of honesty.
So, Reza tells the audience throughout the play that we cannot force others to apply to our own opinions. As with art, there exists a plethora of interpretations that no two people can share. While very literal, Reza uses art as a metaphorical cauldron for life. When the question, "How can you call something which you don't understand sh -?" arises, she tells us that we must be accepting of all things - gender, race, sexuality - she is not merely speaking about artistic work.
Ultimately, Reza tells us that time is fleeting. At the end of the play, Marc and Serge opt to take a new trial run at friendship after a relationship of almost 15 years finds itself demolished.
Lastly, Reza reveals our selfish human nature, which is venom to a healthy relationship. She writes, "Everybody talks about themselves." For an audience of college students, this observation may have hit scarily close to home. Many have now realized this truth and know that it's only the exceptional people that do not.
Each performance was gritty, flawlessly cast, and brought something very special to the play. As Marc, Jeff Augustin, A&S '08, was the perfect narcissist. Evan Powell, A&S '07, played a witty, compulsive snob. And, with his tour-de-force monologue, in which he has a nervous breakdown triggered from a disagreement over a wedding invitation, as Evan, Greg O'Kane, A&S '08, robbed the show with this intricately beautiful moment. Hats off to Jim Fagan, director, organization president, and A&S '07, for his selection of this play, which fit nicely with the intimacy of the black box theater. His creative decisions reveal a depth that many entering the business lack. A great future lies ahead of him.
The show was also aesthetically pleasing. For a low-budget production, Art boasted a perfect set. Surrounding the echelons of the theater's balcony were different works of art, adding to the symbolism of the play. Between scenes, an eclectic taste of modern music was played, perfectly matching the tone of the play. Also enjoyable was the dedication seen by the actors who did not break with their characters. This allowed for more insight into their characters' quirks, giving the play an extra natural feel.
At the end of the night, when the play is over and reality has been lifted, one exit through the lobby of the Robsham Theater Arts Center, finding themselves drawn into the display by the BC Arts Club. Looking at it through different eyes, one realizes that this particular piece of theater has had an impact. And that's what good theater does.
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