How would you describe a painting that is completely in gradients of white? If we were to quote an old children’s joke we’d say: ‘A rabbit in a snowstorm.’ But for the character of Serge in Yasmina Reza’s play Art, a white-on-white piece of modern art— for which he paid $2,000, speaks to a deep longing within him and seems to fill the void. “Art can create a range of conflicting feelings,” begins Jayshree Murthy on picking Yasmina’s French masterpiece for her latest direction. With farce and slapstick comedy being the most well-received genre on the Coimbatore stage, the founder of Sthaayi School of Theatre Arts decided to break the mould by choosing a piece that is subtle with humour and deals with a multitude of subtexts.
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A three-member cast featuring a familiar face from the city’s theatre circuit, Rajesh Bohra, the remaining actors—Prashanth CA and Gopinath D, are new additions to the acting roster. A running time of 60 minutes, the play, which focuses on the meaning of art (in the form of a solid white painting) as well as the meaning of friendship, aims to raise two questions: Are we just the projections of what our friends want us to be? and how much truth can a person stand, even if it is from a friend? “A piece of theatre that wouldn’t work well in another medium, the play has very tight-lipped humour,” explains Prashanth, who plays the character of Serge, who purchases the white painting in the play.
To be staged at @641, Art will include a minimal stage setting, with additional attention on lighting and sound. “We will only be performing the play once in the city as it is under copyright. We have paid a charge for a single reproduction only,” she explains.
Hoping to get Coimbatore more involved in theatre, the 70-year-old is also hosting multiple workshops in the city and is involving young blood in the production and assisting of plays.
Rs 300. From 6.45 pm onwards. Suitable for audiences above the age of 18. At @641