Goderich Signal Star, 2017-01-25, Page 1818 Signal Star • Wednesday, January 25, 2017
Dark comedy about male friendship to be staged at The Livery
Darryl Coote
Editor
Most know of at least one
male friendship that has
deteriorated because of a
female that got in the mid-
dle. But how many know of a
friendship taken to the boil-
ing point over the meaning
of an expensive piece of art?
That is the source of dra-
matic conflict in "Art," a play
by Yasmina Reza, which
'opens at The Livery Theatre
Feb. 8.
Directed by Will Kerno-
han, the play is about the
relationship between three
male friends and how it
changes after one of them
buys a $200,000 monochro-
matic painting - or in other
words, a white canvas.
"It's a fantastic play. I
think really it's a very funny
tragedy because it's really
more about friendship and
the themes of friendship
than it is about modern art,"
said Kernohan recently to
The Signal Star.
The play, which is cele-
brating 20 years since it was
first performed, is one that
Kernohan has wanted to
stage for sometime now and
only recently did the right
actors come into his life to
make it possible, he said.
"I always cast based on
feelings, from meeting
sofneone or working with
someone in the past," he
said.
Last year he had staged
another play at The Livery.
During the cast party he met
Ben Scholten.
Darryl Coote/Editor
Will Kernohan, as his character Ivan, poses for the camera.
"And I was like he was per-
fect for [the character of]
Mark in this show," he said.
For the other character,
Serg, he had Shawn Van
Osch in mind, who he had
previously directed. And for
Ivan, Kernohan cast
himself.
"The key to directing this
play is casting it well and to
form a bond of friendship
with the two actors that
you're working with because
that is clearly what it's all
about this play," he said.
For the staging of the play,
he has extended the stage
out into the audience for two
reasons: One, to accommo-
date the four -piece jazz
band; and two, to create a
more immersive experience
for the audience member.
"We wanted people to feel
that they are right in this
apartment experiencing this
argument," he said.
The trio have been
rehearsing the play since
early December with six
shows played for throughout
February.
Oh opening night and Feb.
11 and 18, there will be a
special Q&A with the actors
after the show, hosted by
Duncan McGregor of the
Blyth Theatre Festival.
For more information,
visit thelivery.ca or call
519-534-6262.
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Ben Scholten and Will Kernohan during a dress rehearsal for "Art, which opens at The Livery
Theatre Feb. 9.
Submitted
Shawn Van Osch as his character looks at the which, monochromatic painting that Director Will
Kernohan sais is like the play's fourth character.