Reviews

The three men did justice to Christopher Hampton’s translation with its
refined vocabulary and lengthy monologues. Under Victor Lirio’s direction, the eloquence of the script coupled with the rhythm of the delivery made the comedy take flight. I felt this was the best expression of the Bridges Project which aimed to have a cross-continent exchange of theatrical know-how which extended to the technical part of the play as well.

~ ABS-CBN
With it, one enters the theatre with a fair judgment of who among the three characters prolific French playwright and actor Yasmina Reza crafted has a valid and sensible point. In navigating freely and weighing in on each of the characters’ defences, one appreciates the intricate writing of this play and the nuanced performances of the actors, albeit posing as hysterical to blend wit, humour and absurdity.

~ Tatler PH
“ART is not comedy in the broad, gag-driven, or slapstick sense. It is intellectual wit and psychological nuance, with Hampton’s elegant script laced with irony and cutting hostility. The text is a minefield of laugh-out-loud passive-aggressive remarks, semantic one-upmanship and emotional deflection. Through it all, Reza dissects the anatomy of male friendship — how pride can lead to competition, ego to cruelty and fear to hostility. “

~ Daily Tribune
“Without drawing any comparisons to the first time I saw Art some 20 odd years ago, this casting is quite apt. Sarreal, Sawyer, and Sy play their
characters well, accents and all. Some scenes are giving The Three Stooges, leaning towards the uptight and acerbic. Comedic and wry, they slyly pull punches under the guise of everyday banter—and they deliver! Even the characterizations are on point. Sawyer embodies Marc’s bruised ego, hiding this with arrogance and swagger. “

~ The Post
“The play opens with an expanded ronde, as the three circle each other in a choreographed sequence. This is intended to signify the closeness of their friendship and their playful nature with each other. For me, this was stretching from the outset, when that closeness and intimacy could just as well be established with the lines that kick off the actual play. More trust in what the lines already provide?”

~ Manila Bulletin
“Most of the time, the characters stay on set, and listen to each other’s monologues, which removes the privacy and intimacy of some of what is being said. I really love Sarreal’s laser-sharp focus and Sawyer’s ability to portray Marc’s posturing. I’ve also always been a fan of everything Sy has done, both on stage and in film. However, I didn’t really see the connection on the opening night. The play in itself is funny and surprising, and I’m hoping that later shows will flesh out their relationship more.”