Theatre Review
Good Night Out presents:
Studies for a Portrait
Written by Daniel Reitz
Directed by Adam Spreadbury-Maher
White Bear Theatre
6 January-1 February 2009
A review by Amber Gregory for EXTRA! EXTRA!
Julian Barker is a world famous million dollar artist. He is so famous that even Warhol mentioned him in a published diary extract. Those were the days when he rubbed shoulders with the likes of Francis Bacon amongst other celebrated artists. Now however he is dying- and his main aim for the last three months of his life are to paint and to drink every expensive bottle of wine left in his cellar. To see him through this painful time is Julian’s younger boyfriend Chad- prime beneficiary to his million dollar iconic works. There to support Chad is his even younger boyfriend- 23 year old underwear-model Justin. Popping in every now and again to feel sorry for himself and get on everyone’s nerves is Marcus- Julian’s ex partner of 15 years who is determined to reclaim a piece of Julian before his foreseeable death. Sound like a gay comedy? It is. It is also a moving tale which explores how three men respond to Julian’s art in their own way during the last few months of Julian’s life. Julian Barker, played by Martin Bendel, plays his part as an old drunken man who wants to make the most of his life at the end of his time. He is a perceptive man who is very aware of the affair between Chad and Justin- but as long as he gets the sex he wants from Chad he’s not too fussed. Throughout the story we hear him recount tales of moments of his life, trying to remember all that has happened before his life disappears before him. Chad (James Holmes) is a smarmy, creepy, sleazy character whose very stage presence made me feel uncomfortable. What is interesting about the play is how the characters each view Julian’s work. Even though it is obvious that Chad does in certain ways care for Julian, it is also clear that he sees Julian’s work as money and possessions- more so than art. There are moments where the audience could feel sympathy for him as he is Julian’s sole carer, but too soon you see his smarminess return and this empathy you feel vanishes almost before it arrives. At the opposite side of the spectrum from Chad is Marcus. Chad is full of confidence and attitude whereas Marcus reeks with desperation. Unable to move on from the life that he and Julian once shared together he sees Julian’s artwork as a form of deep emotion that they once created with each other. Although he is weak and insecure he believes so much in the love and art they once shared that he will do anything to fight Chad for what he believes he deserves. My favourite character however had to be the part of Justin played by Stephen Hagan who spends most of the performance wondering around the set in tiny boxers with a look of stupidity scrawled across his face. In every way he is the dumb hot young piece of ass that lives with Julian and Chad- yet as he quite rightly points out he is getting less sex than the dying man himself. Underneath this exterior is a deeply educated young man who idolises Julian and his art. Out of all the characters Justin appreciates the paintings as they meant to be appreciated- as art. The set is covered in paint. Random strokes of paint everywhere in the small studio theatre. This works well, even though much of the play is set in the artist’s extravagant home. The ragged paint effect emphasises the fact that in the performance the artwork is more important than anything- and it controls everything. Julian’s painted masterpieces seem to have power over every character’s emotion. Although the play is set in 2006 much of the music is old sixties classics. This once again shows that this is Julian’s play- no one else’s. The sixties were his big time and everything about the play is his. Without his art none of the other characters could have ever existed. Without his art he could not have existed.
Venue: White Bear Theatre Club Box Office: 020 7793 9193 Tickets: £12/£10 2 hours 10 minutes with interval Age appropriate for 18+ Tuesday-Saturday 7:30pm; Sunday 5:00pm
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