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The
plot is quite simple. Serge buys a painting - or rather an entirely
white canvas - for 200,000 Francs. This to me did seem a bit pricey
and apparently his friend Marc thinks so too, telling Serge as such
directly - calling it "a piece of white sh*t".
The
third friend Yvan attempts to mediate, taking the middle path as
he seems to do in all areas of his life, and incurs the wrath of
his friends in the process.
In
short, this play is both enormously entertaining but really makes
you think as well.
Now
for 'In long'!
Catalyst
On the face of it, this could be a discusssion about contemporary
art, but the plain white painting is just the catalyst for an exploration
of the relationship between three very good friends and what they
really expect of each other.
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| Nigel
Havers |
The
argument gets out of control and threatens to destroy their relationship
as they explore what their friendship means to one another.
I
think that this is a truly great play which captures exactly the
nature of human relationships and how we see ourselves in the context
of others.
This
of course sets you off thinking about your own situation. You expect
your friends to react in a certain way to your actions simply because
they are friends - and then of course you are outraged and upset
when they dare to behave in an unexpected way or, God forbid, have
their own opinions!
It
also throws up all sorts of other questions to do with how we may
behave differently depending on whose company we are in and that
we are seen differently by different people.
Just
like the white canvas, people can think what they want of us, some
will like us, some won't. But we all have the right to be. In fact,
we are all only figments of our own imaginations.
Yes
- like me, you too will leave the theatre with your head spinning!
But at just 90 minutes long, there's plenty of time to have a nice
meal afterwards and discuss it all with your own friends!
Sensational
There is also some sensational acting from three performers who
complement each other perfectly.
Nigel
Havers as the casual and relaxed Serge is as charming and smooth
as ever and you really believe his indulgence.
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| Leigh
Lawson |
As
the derogatory Marc, Leigh Lawson is suitably infuriated, and this,
mixed with a sharp caustic wit, makes him quite hilarious, but at
the same time you can really feel his frustration.
I
felt that the part of Yvan was probably the most demanding. Roger
Lloyd Pack plays this vulnerable man, who has been in long term
therapy, and who constantly tries to be positive, even if he doesn't
agree. Is he the true diplomat or just spineless? The choice is
yours.
Because
he sits on the fence, he turns into the target of his friends' anger
and in this I definitely spotted small elements of the part for
which he is probably best known - the put-upon Trigger from Only
Fools and Horses.
But
this also makes him totally credible, especially as he delivers
what I thought was the defining moment of the play.
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| Roger
Lloyd Pack |
We
all laugh when Ivan reads out his therapists analysis of the situation
but in fact the letter delivers the whole point. The gist is - if
I am me because you are you, then I am not me at all.
It's
a perfect example of how this play uses comedy to drive home a serious
point more effectively. Brilliant.
Art
is all at once funny, sad and moving with some fantastic one liners
brilliantly carried off. It deserves to be the comedic institution
it has become.
 Full
interview with Nigel Havers >>
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