Remy Bumppo: Art Review
Justin Albinder and Eduardo Curley
Remy Bumppo Presents ART Review - Is This About the Painting?
TLDR: Exploring the dynamic of three old friends, Art shows us how each has a different relationship with each other and how they have changed over the years. Centered around an argument about whether a piece of artwork is good or not, the three actors each create their character’s own personality quirks that make us believe they could be real friends before us.
Chad Bay, Eduardo Curley, and Justin Albinder
Remy Bumppo Takes on The Modern Art Argument
“It's diagonal white lines on a white canvas.”
How many of you have stood in front of a painting at the modern art museum and thought, that's literally just a blob of color on a canvas, or, I could've done that, or the all time classic, I don't get it. Perhaps we've all had one of those moments as we experience a piece of modern art in all its simplistic glory. For three friends, one piece of art causes a snowball effect that has them questioning the very grounds their relationship was built on.
Marc smiles placidly in front of the canvas, trying to hide his true feelings. Serge stares at it, admiring it with a disbelieving smile. Yvan looks between the two of them, developing his own feelings for it. These three have been friends for years, respected each other’s opinions, shared book recommendations, and even will be a part of each other’s weddings. But how can this painting cause such a divide between them? They were once so close and now because they all think differently about if this painting is good or not, it causes them to doubt everything their friendship was built on.
The stage itself is also minimalistic with neutral colored furniture - a white loveseat and dusky gray sitting chairs against gray-beige walls with crown molding accents. It draws our focus to the colorful characters in front of us. When we finally see the painting itself, we have that grand moment where we get to take it all in and it makes sense why they’re arguing so much over it.
Distinct Personality Quirks
Being a dialogue and relationship heavy show, the meat of Art comes down to how our three actors deliver their characters and how they interact with each other to draw us in and make us believe they are who they say they are. Each of the three, Justin Albinder as Marc, Chad Bay as Serge, and Eduardo Curley as Yvan pop on stage bringing these characters to life and making us care about this inane argument about a white painting.
Albinder looks and delivers his lines with an acerbic bite. He can’t hold back how he feels, but when he realizes this is a serious matter tries to overcompensate and reel back in his true feelings.
Bay plays the lofty Serge with a multi-layered approach where we know he thinks he has better taste than everyone else, but he’s trying to play it off like he doesn’t think that at all.
Curley bursts onto the stage in a frenzy of energy, lamenting his premarital woes and tries to understand what is going on between his two other friends.
The creative team also brought their focus to the characters and created more depth to each of them as well. The direction by Marti Lyons creates moments for each of the actors to show their distinct personalities. Curley crawls around on the floor holding his favored felt tip pen aloft as he searches for the cap. The lights dim behind Albinder as he speaks in and aside to us audience members expressing his disdain for the painting. And Bay holds up his hand, scoffing like he can’t believe what he’s hearing about this beloved art piece.
The costume design by Kristy Leigh Hall also manages to capture each of the character’s personalities to a T and we get who they are right from the start. Yvan’s a little bit louder print shirts and sweaters that are just slightly too big on him. Marc in darker, more utilitarian colors. And Serge is in clean beige and cream, tasteful neutrals.
Even part of the set design (Lauren M. Nichols) is able to punctuate their differences with a panel that cleverly rotates with three artwork pieces when we’re in each of their different abodes, showing us their different tastes in art.
So while the concept of the play is simple, each theatrical element adds more depth to this little bubble of their world.
Chad Bay and Justin Albinder
The After Party Thoughts
The pacing of Art felt very balanced. We get enough details about the characters to start and hear their arguments for or against the painting so when we get deeper and deeper into their arguments, we’re following right alongside them as the argument turns into them all questioning their friendship.
The actors drew us in as we first got to know them in their first few scenes and I love their little quirks and line deliveries that make it feel like a natural conversation. The cast also does a wonderful job of navigating the script where they find levity in their arguments so we know the qualms with the painting aren’t taken too seriously and then they also know when to take a beat when they strike a nerve taking issue with each other.
For those that like more action driven shows, this wouldn't be a good fit for you. However, if you like friends arguing about absurd things that turns into a philosophical discussion about relationships, Art would be a good show for you!
RECOMMENDED
Chad Bay
When
Now through June 1, 2025
Where
Theater Wit
1229 W. Belmont Ave
Chicago, IL 60657
Runtime: 90min, no intermission
Tickets
$15+
Tickets can be purchased by calling the box office at 773-975-8150 or through the Remy Bumppo website
Photos
Nomee Photography
CAST
Justin Albinder (Marc)
Chad Bay (Serge)
Eduardo Curley (Yvan)
Hudson Therriault (Marc U/S)
Adam Qutaishat (Serge U/S)
Roberto Mantica (Yvan U/S)
CREATIVE
Marti Lyons (Director)
Jazzlyn Luckett Aderele (Assistant director)
Cassidy Wray (Stage Manager)
Sophie Goddard (Assistant Stage Manager)
Faith Hart (Dramaturg)
Kristy Leigh Hall (Costume Designer)
Janelle Smith (Assistant Costume Designer)
Lauren M. Nichols (Scenic Designer)
Liz Gomez (Lighting Designer)
Quinn Chisenhall (Assistant Light Designer)
Matthew Chapman (Sound Designer)
Amanda Herrmann (Property Designer)
Jerry Galante (Fight Designer)
Emmanuel Jimenez (Technical Director)
Nick Chamernik (Lighting Supervisor)
Gabrielle Carrillo (Wardrobe Supervisor)
Caitlyn Girten (Scenic Charge)
Jasmine B. Gunter (Casting Director)
Katie Galetti, CSA (Casting Consultant)
Johnnie Schleyer (Production Manager)
Christina Casano (Creative Producer)