Theater review: 'Art' isn't easy — but also very funny

Martin Sarreal, Freddy Sawyer and Brian Sy in a scene from 'Art.' Handout

Repertory Philippines explores the different shades of white with Yasmin Reza’s modern classic “Art.” 

The funny (or tragic) thing about “Art” is that it’s just all so relatable. Watching a friendship implode into fisticuffs has never been this entertaining.

We see Serge (Martin Sarreal) fresh off a 200,000 -franc purchase of a painting. Bestie Marc (Freddie Sawyer) comes in trying to see the rhyme or reason as to why normally rational Serge would throw so much money into a 5x4 canvas of white. Both friends then go to Yvan (Brian Sy), with Marc ranting about why Serge blew so much money on a piece of sh*t, and Serge belittling Marc’s lack of taste and appreciation of art. Hilarity and cringe ensue as the three-man friendship devolves into chaos.

Clocking in at 100 minutes with no intermission, “Art” feels longer — but in the best possible way. This production deliberately takes its time, from the elaborate arranging of the set by the actors and a stray stagehand in real time — reminiscent of the entr’acte of “Betrayal” last year — to the rhythm and pace of the characters’ monologues.

Sarreal, most prominently seen as Lord Barnell in “Bridgerton,” gives Serge a kid-with-a-new-toy glee, while Sawyer shows off the obnoxious side of “woke” with his being offended at everything and anything. Manila-based thespian Sy gives poor Yvan a perpetually flustered manner, see-sawing between his soon-to-be ex-best friends.

As with “Betrayal,” hearing native British speakers with natural accents was the highlight of the production. The players did not use microphones and relied on their projection. Maybe it’s because of the tighter space of the Eastwood theater but I thought the words were clearer this time around. Sy stood out with “Filipino English,” perhaps to stress that he was the odd man out among the three.

The three men did justice to Christopher Hampton’s translation with its refined vocabulary and lengthy monologues. Under Victor Lirio’s direction, the eloquence of the script coupled with the rhythm of the delivery made the comedy take flight.

Martin Sarreal, Freddy Sawyer and Brian Sy in a scene from 'Art.' Handout

I felt this was the best expression of the Bridges Project which aimed to have a cross-continent exchange of theatrical know-how which extended to the technical part of the play as well.

High arched ceilings with Hope Project artwork made by inmates at the Lipa City Jail showed how well-off the three men are without any exposition. The entrancing original score with notes of African beats, acid jazz, and ambient electronica by composer Fabian Obispo did much to help set this in modern-day upper-crust Paris.

My only nitpick would be the brawl that could use a bit more heft to feel more hard-hitting.

“Art” does take subtle jabs at the dynamics of friendship that I thought was so eerily familiar.

I’ve had my own Serge moments where I spent on possibly questionable splurges on tasting menus, running shoes, bicycles and accessories, gadgets, concert tickets, the occasional buying binges on Lazada… and the list goes on

I’ve been a Marc, too, quietly — and sometimes not so quietly — passing judgment on what I saw as my friends’ irrational indulgences.

Or the caught-in-the-meddle peacemaker Yvan with “Walang basagan ng trip”/”as long as s/he’s happy” attempts to placate warring friends.

It’s all so cringingly funny because it feels like déjà vu.

I can’t remember the last time I laughed so hard inside a theater. Straight-play comedy has long been one of Repertory Philippines’ strengths, and “Art” is no exception.

I’m sure that no one will judge you for dropping 3,000 bucks for a play this eloquent and laugh-out-loud funny.

The cast of 'Art' at curtain call. Jeeves de Veyra

“Art” runs until June 29 at the Repertory Eastwood Theater, Citywalk 2 Mall, Libis, Quezon City.