Art

By: Yasmina Reza, Christopher Hampton

Narrated by: Bob Balaban, Brian Cox, Brian Perry

Length: 1 hr and 49 mins

Publisher's Summary

How much would you pay for a painting with nothing on it? Would it be art? Marc's best friend Serge has just bought a very expensive - and very white - painting. To Marc, the painting is a joke, and as battle lines are drawn, old friends use it to settle scores. A Tony Award winner for Best Play and an Olivier Award winner for Best Comedy.

©2009 L.A. Theatre Works (P)2009 L.A. Theatre Works

Critic Reviews

"A nonstop cross-fire of crackling language [and] serious issues of life and art...sounds like a marriage of Molière and Woody Allen." ( Newsweek)

3 Men + 1 White Canvas = Big TROUBLE

This is a wild ride of a play, ideal for making two hours fly by whether you are on the road or doing housework. Nothing is lost here from stage to audiobook, as the action resides almost exclusively in the dialogue. (Since the "Art" in question is a plain white canvas, even that need not be seen to be fully appreciated.) Reza's masterpiece of a play skewers notions of friendship, art, culture, intellectual criticism, and what constitutes true value, all in one incredibly enjoyable, wickedly funny, sharp and fast-paced interlude. Bob Balaban is perfectly cast as Serge, Brian Cox seethes as furious powder keg Mark, and Jeff Perry unexpectedly nearly runs away with the play as mild-mannered, stressed-to-the-max Ivan, whose lengthy monologue/rant about the debacle surrounding the printed invitations to his upcoming wedding nearly brings down the house.

This recording would deserve 5 stars across the board except for the incredibly bad decision by L.A. TheatreWorks to place AN INTERVIEW WITH THE TRANSLATOR in between Act One and Act Two!

7 of 9 people found this review helpful

Charming play on the value of art and friendship

A very enjoyable L.A. Theatreworks prodution of the Reza/Hampton play ART. The play is really just a one-acter, but it's well worth a listen (or two) for all that. I especially enjoyed Brian Cox's measured and sly performance. One complaint--for some reason, L.A. Theatreworks broke Act 1 and Act 2 with an interview with Christopher Hampton. I enjoyed the interview, but why on earth did they put it in the MIDDLE of the production? Its placement was a poor decision, which broke of the continuity of the play, in my opinion. However, ART is a most interesting download for any lover of contemporary theatre. BTW, Reza and Hampton also collaborated on this year's Tony-winning "God of Carnage," a much inferior play to ART, which depends largely on a theatrical gimmick for its popularity. (I saw it in April 2009 on B'way.) However, if you are interested in "God of Carnage," you should certainly try ART first.

2 of 3 people found this review helpful

Art Review

I read the play in high school. Hearing it helped me view it from a new perspective. The cast was well chosen.

Hilarious Performance!

All three actors deliver a wonderful performance if this witty examination of art and friendship.

Brilliant exploration of friendship

Top notch cast deftly wring out every drop of wit and heartfelt sentiment from this exquisitely written play that challenges our assumptions about artistic aesthetics, friendship, what binds us to others and the expectations, needs and desires we place on our friends. Very funny, provocative and moving.

1 of 3 people found this review helpful

Save Your Money - Save Your Time

If you REALLY like stories, simply because the characters are gay, you might enjoy this book. However if you expect a story, with wit, wisdom, or information, then you are wasting your time.

2 of 6 people found this review helpful

Laugh out loud look at friendship

The performances are perfect, the story a delight. I didn't expect to laugh so much and so hard.

0 of 2 people found this review helpful

A play about a painting that works as an audiobook

This audiobook is all about a piece of art. One man bought it and his two friends (and the purchaser himself) talk about it. And argue about it. And each other. It's a brilliant commentary on modern art, art culture and consumption. The actors are well cast, creating fully founded characters to life with flair and skill. Their monologues carry the action along without being annoying or distracting. Buy this audiobook for some sophisticated (and some unsophistcated) laughs about art and modern culture.

0 of 2 people found this review helpful

Makes you laugh and think at the same time.

Would you listen to Art again? Why?

I listen to this play frequently, it makes me laugh each time. Great for stressed times.

What about the narrators’s performance did you like?

The actors are amazing, and in the original play they change roles frequently, so you never no if this combination is the best of all...

0 of 2 people found this review helpful

Wonderful Words for Men to hear

Having seen ART produced in both London and New York, I was excited to find the play on Audible. The three characters in the play are wonderfully played by these actors and I enjoyed it so much I listened to it twice on two consecutive days. Yasmina Reza has captured the feelings men have for each other in a way no other author has. She helps us explore, topics like, marriage, children, friendships, truth and of course ART. I loved this!

0 of 2 people found this review helpful

Recommend Audiobook

Downloaded play from amazon audible. Good recording plus very interesting interviews with the creatives. Will certainly download more Yasmina Reza.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful