Yasmina Reza’s Art remains one of the most incisive and rewarding plays ever written about friendship, pride, and perception. The current Broadway revival, which I attended on October 19, 2025, was nothing short of extraordinary. What begins as a simple argument over a white-on-white painting evolves into a riveting and hysterical study of how fragile our connections can be when challenged by taste, ego, and truth. This production managed to be both laugh-out-loud funny and quietly profound, a perfect blend of intellect and humanity.
The cast – Bobby Cannavale, James Corden, and Neil Patrick Harris – was an absolute masterclass in timing and chemistry. Cannavale brought a sharp-edged realism to Marc, grounding the philosophical debates with emotional weight and authentic frustration. Corden, as Yvan, delivered some of the evening’s biggest laughs with his spectacular meltdown monologue, turning exasperation into something both comic and deeply human. Harris, as Serge, gave a beautifully restrained performance that balanced charm, intelligence, and a touch of arrogance. Together, the trio created a rhythm so natural and precise that the dialogue felt like a musical composition – full of tempo changes, crescendos, and quiet pauses that revealed as much as they concealed.
The direction was subtle and confident, allowing the power of Reza’s words to take center stage. The minimalist set and clean design kept the focus on the relationships rather than the environment. Every lighting shift and movement felt intentional, reflecting how small gestures and changes in tone can alter the emotional temperature of an entire friendship.
What stood out most was the play’s balance between humor and honesty. The laughter was constant and genuine, yet beneath it ran a current of sadness about how easily people wound one another in the name of taste or principle. This revival captured that delicate balance perfectly.
After the curtain call, all three actors came out to the stage door, greeting fans with warmth and humility. They signed autographs, took photos, and seemed genuinely grateful for the enthusiasm of the crowd. It was a fitting end to a night that celebrated both artistry and connection.
This revival of Art is a triumph. It is fast, funny, thoughtful, and alive. Cannavale, Corden, and Harris reminded everyone that theatre can be both intimate and universal, simple in its staging yet endlessly rich in meaning. It was, in every sense, a work of art.
Brian Brijbag 