Comedian Seann Walsh has made a name for himself in the world of stand-up. But will his move to acting be stand out?
How much would you pay for a large blank canvas? And if it was signed by a famous artist? Well, Serge is willing to pay 200,000 euros for it. Much to the derision of his long-term buddies. Such is the opening premise in Art, currently touring the country and starring stand-up star Seann Walsh.
What starts as a minor disagreement between three old friends flares up into violent confrontation likely to end these lifelong relationships forever. Long buried grudges, insecurities, rivalries and jealousies all boil up to the surface.
Mark ridicules Serge for his gullibility. Ivan (Seann Walsh) is the tolerant, conflict-averse middle ground between these two polar opposites, who becomes embroiled in their fight with both demanding he side with them. As the battle widens into all-out war, other aspects of their lives become fair game, Mark’s aloof wife, Ivan’s impending marriage to a woman with higher social status than him. The audience can see it is all going to end in tears.
This play feels very European. That three straight men can become so emotionally involved with each other, that falling out is tantamount to a divorce. That they would cry and stomp and curse at their mates’ failings, is a little hard to believe from British men, more known for their stiff upper lip than platonic love affairs with their beer buddies.
His performance was anything but a blank canvas
But then this is a European play. A French-language play written by Yasmina Reza that premiered in 1994 at Comédie des Champs-Élysées in Paris. From there the play subsequently transferred to London in 1996 and onto Broadway in 1998. It won a stack load of awards, not least the 1998 Tony Award for Best Play.
This version is translated from its native French to English by Christopher Hampton, preserving the meat of the matter but dished up with heaps of British dressing. Iqbal Khan, famed for East is East among other glories, is the director. His steady hand evident here perhaps, through the solid performances. The simple revolving set serves the play well, alternating between the three men’s pads. Like that infernal canvas, it is minimal.
This is Seann Walsh’s only second venture into the acting sphere, after playing Malvolio in Twelfth Night. So how did he do? Brilliantly. His performance was anything but a blank canvas. He convincingly conveyed Ivan’s inner demons. So not only handling the comedy dialogue but shifting into darker territory with aplomb. Chris Harper and Aden Gillett performing the other two characters in the script are also note perfect. With such a small cast, they are on stage all the time emoting strong feelings, which must be draining. But you’d never notice.
The all-white canvas then, is a metaphor, a catalyst, a trigger. It’s existence pushes the three on a trajectory at first comic but increasingly disturbing. Once they have bared their souls to each other, is there any chance of a reconciliation? Will their friendships survive?
Art plays at the Theatre Royal from Tuesday October 8th to Saturday 12th October 2024.
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