"Art"

First of all, this was a good play to start off with; it was simple in cast, writing, set design and character development. A good start for people such as myself, who have less experience in reading scripts than many FPA majors.

I also enjoyed how I didn't have to be told that the play takes place in Europe; the use of francs as currency, as well as many turns of phrase, gave that away without someone having to announce a trip to London or wherever.

Of the three characters in the play, I feel like Yvan really got the short end of the stick in the end. Serge gets to keep his painting and his friend, while still gaining a sense of humor. Marc gets the reassurance that he is not being replaced by a painting. Yvan gets a marriage he didn't really want, a job that relies on said marriage, and the burden of knowing the reconciliation of their friendship started with a lie. Where the other two gain peace of mind, Yvan loses what little he might have had.

The painting in the play seems to me to be a reflection of the play itself. "Art" is rather minimalist in style - only three characters, two representing artistic movements, simple dialogue with frequent repetition, and minimal set design. Especially when compared to "Amadeus," a much grander production with more characters, props and a more convoluted plot.