What is art?
It’s a question that’s obsessed philosophers, intellectuals, critics and creatives of all stripes for centuries.
Everyman Theatre’s new production of playwright Yasmina Reza’s award-winning comedy, “Art” explores that question and lots more. Directed by Everyman Associate Artistic Director Noah Himmelstein and starring Everyman Resident Company members Tony Nam, Bruce Randolph Nelson and Kyle Prue, the play will run from Oct. 19-Nov. 16.
“‘Art’ is a comedy of manners,” says Himmelstein. “It looks at three middle aged men and their friendships and dissects them through the prism of this hilarious event where one of them spends an exorbitant amount of money on a painting. It throws his friends through a loop.”
Reza’s play explores how a seemingly innocuous event like buying an expensive painting has the power to damage long-term relationships. It also examines issues of masculinity and male friendships.
“Yasmina Reza, the amazing French Jewish playwright asks, ‘what is friendship made of?'” says Himmelstein. “When you get past the small talk, inside jokes and work references, what do these men share and how do they grow? She’s captured something about how aesthetics, our interests and our tastes in film, movies, theater, art say a lot about our values.”
Himmelstein says the play, first produced in the mid 1990s, also raises timely topics in a world where people are so divided.
“It used to be that people could disagree and their friendships would deepen. This play asks if that is still true.”
For more information and to purchase tickets, visit everymantheatre.org.
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