His best friend Marc responds to the purchase by laughing in his face. Laughter that grows into hate. To cynical Marc, played by Tom Nabhan, the existence of that painting in his friend's home says awful things about their friendship. "I can't love the Serge that would buy that painting."

David Janoviak's delivers a complicated performance in Serge. From the opening scene, when he first shows his friend his painting, Janoviak brings forth the essence of Serge without words; hope, humor, defiance, and a very quiet desperation.

Joe Cronin's Yvan is the third friend, rumpled and tired, eccentricity faded into sad childishness. He doesn't want trouble. He contains, in more ways than one, the play's only color.    

Why did Serge buy this painting? Does the art move him, or is he more affected by the price tag and the prestige of the name accompanying it? And is that altogether bad? Why does Marc carry so much hate toward it? What is Yvan's place, the weak man who just doesn't care?  "Art" seeks to explore more than answer.

The set is fully impressionistic, thick marble slabs to indicate "three very different apartments." The dialogue has an unnatural cadence, either by original purpose or as a result of being translated from French. The overall result is a particular coldness, as if the play is taking place in a different reality, not just a different country.

I don't believe this play's primary purpose is to entertain,. "Art" is an academic's play, an actor's play, and a philosopher's play. Salem Repertory publishes its mission statement in its playbills. Part of their purpose; "To challenge artists and audiences with plays of depth and vibrancy that illuminate the strengths, frailties, and diversity of the human condition."

Challenge. You will have to think as you watch this play. You will need to be totally open to metaphor and nuance. You will have to puzzle out why the odd sounding line was purposefully placed. You must keeping asking yourself, "what does it all mean?"

Near the climax of the story a wounded Yvan cries, "I don't have your refined sensibilities! I'm not an authority, I don't have an opinion!"

Yvan feels the pressure of limitation, suspecting he's missing something due to his ignorance. If the audience feels the same, this line might be evidence of a brilliant playwright accomplishing an encompassing irony. Or, it might just be me.