Originally written in French in 1994, Yasmina Reza’s internationally acclaimed play ART is a comedy brimming with sharp wit and profound dialogue. It has been produced in 45 countries and translated into some 30 languages. 

Known for his adept handling of award-winning productions, director Victor Lirio says ART is basically a story of friendship: “I feel like there’s such global political turmoil in the world, and I just feel like we need something really funny and entertaining. It’s also an opportunity to bring a play that’s incredibly well written, that delves into themes of friendship that are quite universal.”

Minimalist in style but rich in subtext, ART draws its strength not from spectacle, but from clever dialogue and some uncomfortable truths.

The premise is deceptively simple: Serge (Filipino British actor, Martin Sarreal, Bridgerton Season 3) buys a stark, all-white painting for an outrageous price. His longtime friend Marc (BOVTS actor, Freddy Sawyer), the group’s cynic, is horrified. Caught between them is Yvan (award-winning local actor, Brian Sy, Othello, Tiny Beautiful Things), the peacekeeper whose own issues and insecurities soon unravel.

What starts as a dispute over modern art quickly spirals into an examination of ego, and the unspoken bonds between friends.

Sarreal nails it as Serge, a man who has just enough self-importance, but with an edge of quirkiness to it, while Sawyer’s Marc is full of cutting humor and vulnerability. But it is Sy’s Yvan whose neurotic monologues and hapless attempts at diplomacy ground the production and make him the play’s comic relief and emotional anchor. 

Visually, the production does not try to pile it on. The set evokes the play’s themes, which are spare, modern, sterile, even: the notorious white painting, which is itself both prop and punchline. Simple costumes allow us to remain focused on the disintegration of the characters’ dynamics.

As a one-act play with 1 hour and 45 minutes run time, ART feels surprisingly short, though it drags slightly during an extended discussion about family issues. Still, the fast-paced exchanges and awkward silences ensure the audience stays engaged.

In the end, ART leaves us pondering not just the value of art, but the value of honesty in our relationships. Is it better to stay silent for the sake of peace, or speak your mind and risk losing those closest to you? Lirio’s production does not give you straight answers, but it certainly gives you a lot to laugh, and think, about.

Verdict:

ART is a witty, sharply performed dissection of modern friendships, dressed in minimalist style but loaded with emotional complexity. 

A must-see not only for art lovers, but for anyone who has ever come across the complexities of .

ART runs until June 29, 2025 at the Repertory Philippines Theatre in Eastwood Citywalk, Q.C.

Tickets are available via Ticketworld and Ticketmelon.

Photos from Repertory Philippines.