Small Town ‘Art’ Just As Good As Broadway

Art is Yasmina Reza's comedy about art and the three friends who are caught up in one single piece of work—one completely white canvas “created” by a trendy artist and costing more than you can imagine.

The show, staring three of Philadelphia’s most outstanding actors, at due to six rave reviews and incredible ticket sales.

“We hoped we could extend this show from the very beginning,” says Bud Martin, the director of the show.   

Art has been performed on London’s West End, as well as Broadway in New York City. Martin has also been in both places, co-producing Dolly Parton’s 9 to 5 on Broadway and Legally Blonde in London. He joined Ambler’s Act II Playhouse in 2008 as producing artistic director, producing or directing every show there since then. Casting for Art was also in his hands.

When picking the show, Martin envisioned certain people in each of the three roles in Art. Just three. There are no supporting actors or background company. Art is entirely dependant on three local actors who play off of one another so well, no one would ever consider the idea of adding to the cast. There’s no need.

Martin knew that Tony Braithwaite is a great box office draw, and that springtime is when the theater starts selling subscriptions, so Braithwaite (who is a Barrymore Award winning actor) could definitely bring people to the show. His timing and ability to never skip a beat certainly can make people love a show and ultimately subscribe to the theater‘s season. Martin was pleased to receive phone calls from Braithwaite and another Art cast member, Pete Pryor, asking to be considered.

After auditioning people for the role of Serge and realizing no one was just right, Martin received a third phone call from Ian Merrill asking to be considered, as well.  He couldn’t say no. 

“To have these three guys in a play together is a director’s dream. Good directors admit that casting is 80 percent of our job. In this case, I think it was 90 percent.  My job was to create an atmosphere of fun and collaboration, and help them do what they do best,” says Martin.

Art is absolutely a fun time. The performance includes an outstanding monologue from Pryor in which you’re thinking the entire time, “Is he done yet?” but in a good way. It’s impressive how long he continues on, without skipping a beat and without taking time to breathe.

The three actors play off of one another so well, Martin hit the nail on the head with the casting.

Art is 15 years of friendship coming down to each man’s opinion on this piece of art. They vent to each other about everything they’ve been holding back in those 15 years. Amusingly.

Watching people eat a bowl of olives and not saying a single word certainly doesn’t seem thrilling. But it is. The play is witty, yet filled with knife-cutting tension at the same time. No matter where you are sitting at this theater, you feel as if you’re on stage with these guys and part of their situation.

Get out of the heat and stray away from the city this weekend. Check out Art at the Act II Playhouse in Ambler. There’s plenty to do before and after the show in town, as well: dinner, drinks, shopping.

And the show itself will leave plenty to discuss. How would you feel if one of your closest friends purchased a ridiculously expensive work of art that left entirely too much to the imagination?

Art is just as hilarious here as it would be in New York City's Broadway or London. Having done so much in both places, Martin (who will be directing a chamber version of My Fair Lady in Ambler and co-producing a show with the Delaware Theatre Company that he also produced on Broadway) knows that Act II has excellent performances. What you see here is just a small theater that brings actors very close to the audience. It’s more intimate. And the laughter is louder.

“Art is one of those rare gems where the stars have aligned with three of the best actors in Philadelphia, and anywhere I have worked, on the stage together.  It should not be missed,” says Martin.