Review: Art The Play Is Everything Great Theatre Should Be

★★★★★

Art the play is funny, outrageous, compelling – everything great theatre should be. Its star-studded Australian run, by star director Lee Lewis (whose credits include the first production of Prima Facie), deserves to sell out every night.

The play has a storied history. First performed in Paris in 1994, it’s been translated into 30 languages and performed around the world. The translation, by Christopher Hampton, received the 1996-97 Laurence Olivier Award in London and the Tony Award in 1998 in New York.

The story is deceptively simple. Serge, a well-to-do dermatologist, buys an almost-entirely white (perhaps if you squint you can see an off-white diagonal line or two) painting for 160,000 euros.

That decision divides his two close friends. Marc, a cynical aeronautical engineer, sees it as a sign that Serge has ‘lost his sense of humour,’ and starts to question the very basis of their friendship. Yvan, a drifting stationer who often finds himself playing peacemaker, finds himself caught between the two.

For something written more than thirty years ago, the play feels remarkably fresh. Squabbles over modern art, diverging fortunes, and changing friendship dynamics are as relevant now as ever.

Indeed, a play focused entirely on men’s friendship is still an endangered species. It felt unusual to hear three straight, middle-aged men acknowledging and dissecting past hurts, jealousies, and group dynamics; all common fodder for art focused on women’s friendship.

But this isn’t a morality play. Yasmina Reza’s script is zippy and irreverent, filled with laugh-out-loud moments. Occasional asides to the audience, rotating conversational duos, and always the sense of ridiculousness about the fight add to the levity.

The script does become a little laboured about two-thirds of the way through, with shouty, circular arguments where characters seem to be talking past each other for a little too long. But in the last quarter, we regain a sense of momentum, tension building effectively before an appropriately satisfying payoff.

All three actors deliver exceptional performances; it’s hard to pick a single standout. Richard Roxburgh’s physical performance is outstanding. His gestures as he attempts to control his ridicule make his discomfort palpable.

But then Damon Herriman is wonderfully evocative as the suave Serge, cultivating a studied insouciance that suddenly, and deliciously, breaks.

And Toby Schmitz shines in the single funniest scene in the play, delivering a minutes-long monologue cataloguing his woes that had me nearly crying with laughter.

Charles Davis designed the set, a spare, nearly unchanging stage that effectively evokes the apartment of a man with slightly more money than sense. The white painting always looms large, aided by Paul Jackson’s unsparing lighting choices.

And Davis’ costume design – a preppy white look for Serge, black smart casual for Marc, and grey trackies for Yvan – is a blunt visual reminder of these men’s diverging tastes.

This excellent production of a laugh-out-loud play is not to be missed.

Art runs in Melbourne to 3 May at the Comedy Theatre for a limited season as part of its national tour. It then wraps up in Adelaide. See dates below.

Art is presented by Rodney Rigby, Marriner Group, Paul Wheelton AM and State Theatre Company South Australia.

Tickets: https://arttheplay.com.au/tickets/melbourne/

Website: https://www.arttheplay.com.au/

Socials: https://www.instagram.com/arttheplayau/

Photo credit: Brett Boardman

2026 Australian Tour Dates:

Melbourne 22 April – 3 May, Comedy Theatre

Adelaide 20 – 24 May, Her Majesty’s Theatre