There is less than a handful of characters in “Art” but that was more than enough for the seriocomedy to win the 1998 Tony Award for best play.
The Palos Village Players stage “Art” from April 29 to May 7 at Palos Park Recreation Center.
More Top Picks Best Microsoft Surface Laptops
Showtimes are at 7:30 p.m. April 29-30 and May 6-7, and 2 p.m. May 1.
”When it first came out it seemed so intriguing. It’s just three characters onstage with a minimal set. They’re spending the entire time with their discussion revolving around a painting,” said Joanna Leafblad, director of “Art.”
“Then I learned more about the playwright. In fact, I was in ‘God of Carnage,’ one of her plays, for The Palos Village Players a few years ago. I love the way she explores people and relationships.”
Leafblad’s first show with The Palos Village Players was in 2015 portraying Veronica Novak in “God of Carnage” by Yasmina Reza, who also wrote the French-language play “Art.”
“In this hour and a half you really get inside the three people and their heads. It’s really expressive. She’s able to do so much in such a small space in a short time. Her plays are always very smart,” said Leafblad of Orland Park.
“It’s about three friends. They’ve been friends for a long time. One of the friends spends an obnoxious amount of money on a painting that is just a white painting. He insists there’s more to it, so you get their impressions of it.
“What ends up happening is the reactions that each of the other friends has to the purchase of the painting ends up revealing the cracks in their relationships, like the flaws in their characters and just in general of what they think of themselves and each other.”
The Palos Village Players present “Art” in English via the translation by Christopher Hampton.
The cast in “Art” consists of Dan Laubacher of Chicago’s Avondale community as Serge; Len Wcislo of Hickory Hills, who is also The Palos Village Players’ president, as Marc; and Ken Evans of Oak Forest, who is also a board member at large for The Palos Village Players, as Yvan.
“There is an amazing dynamic between the three actors that I just love,” said Leafblad, who also handles publicity as a board member for The Palos Village Players.
“All three are doing such a wonderful job with these characters that I get more and more excited about the show as we get closer. I think they’re fantastic. Like I said, the dynamic between the three of them is great as people but also as actors in the way they play their characters.
“They really play that really well too.”
Leafblad, who first became involved in theater as a fifth grade student at the former St. Priscilla School in Chicago, is also working with producer Kristie Ansinn of Mokena and assistant director Bob Szczepanski of Orland Park on “Art.”
“I have been in shows with Bob through the years so he and I have been fellow actors onstage. He has directed shows that I’ve been in but this is the first time he and I are working together as director and assistant director. He’s a lot more experienced than I am,” Leafblad said.
“He codirected ‘The Odd Couple’ in Tinley Park and I was in that 2018 show, and he and I played husband and wife the following season in Tinley Park-Park District Community Theater’s ‘Come Blow Your Horn.'”
“Art” is being staged 80 years after The Palos Village Players, which was founded by husband and wife Zay and LeMay Smith, produced their first play, “The Torchbearers,” in 1942, at Palos Park Village Hall.
“I love how long The Palos Village Players have been around. They’ve been around since 1941 and there are so many wonderful people involved. People will stay with the group for years and I love how committed everybody is,” Leafblad said.
“I like how for the move-in the week before a show opens there’s always people showing up to help and they’re always supportive of each other. It’s really awesome. It’s just a really cohesive, well-organized group and very talented from the people who do the sets to the people acting on the stage.
“It attracts really good talent.”
‘Art’
When: April 29-May 7
Where: Palos Park Recreation Center, 8901 W. 123rd St., Palos Park
More Top Picks Best Smart Smoke Detectors For Homes
Tickets: $20 adults; $18 seniors and students
Information: 877-787-8497; palosvillageplayers.com
Jessi Virtusio is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.