'Art' Broadway review — Bobby Cannavale, James Corden, and Neil Patrick Harris are a picture-perfect trio

Read our review of Art on Broadway, the first revival of Yasmina Reza's Tony Award-winning comedy play, now running at the Music Box Theatre.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. At the center of Art on Broadway is a seemingly innocuous work of art: a 4-by-5-foot white-on-white canvas. With its $300,000 price tag, however, the purchase leaves the buyer’s friends questioning both his taste and his sanity.

For Marc (Bobby Cannavale), his best friend Serge’s (Neil Patrick Harris) acquisition of the painting is deplorable. He doesn’t sugarcoat his feelings, calling the painting a piece of shit. Their other friend, the ever-pleasing Yvan (James Corden), doesn’t love the painting, but he would never say that to Serge’s face. The trio's opinions bring out the worst in them, prompting them to question what truly binds their friendship in the first place. There are a lot of fighting words shared, but a lot of laughs, too, including Cannavale’s memorable bellow.

The cast's comedic chops are on full display here. Their reactions to the painting earn plenty of laughs, from Harris’s head-shaking adoration to Cannavale’s up-close skepticism. The three display impeccable timing and physicality.

At the performance I attended, Corden took a swig of Perrier, and it went down the wrong pipe, leading to him coughing and stalling. With a bit of encouraging banter from Cannavale, clapping from the audience, and a few swipes of tears, the scene resumed.

Another (scripted) scene-stealing moment comes when Corden launches into a long, rambling monologue, recalling a phone conversation with his mother about invitations for his upcoming wedding. He delivers it at such a clip that he can hardly catch his breath. My audience hooted and hollered.

Director Scott Ellis balances the heightened emotions with the absurdity of the situation. In one scene, the seething men pause their brawl for a snack break, silently popping olives and dropping the pits — one by one — into a silver bowl with a plunk.

Art has humor, a wonderful cast, and the timeless clash of differing opinions. What’s missing from the script is a clear sense of place and purpose for this friendship. Where did it begin? If a 25-year bond is on the verge of breaking, the audience needs a glimpse of what’s truly at stake.

Art summary

Art, a comedy play written by Yasmina Reza and translated into English by Christopher Hampton, follows three longtime friends whose relationship is tested when one of them buys an expensive, modern painting. One man despises it, and another is caught in the middle as the trio debate art and friendship.

The play first bowed on Broadway in 1998 with Alan Alda, Victor Garber, and Alfred Molina, and it won the Tony Award for Best Play.

What to expect at Art

The play unfolds on a simple set by David Rockwell, which serves as all three characters' gray, modernistic apartments. The action is punctuated with asides, allowing the characters to share their true emotions with the audience, bringing them into the fold.

The show runs 1 hour and 40 minutes with no intermission. Make sure to use the restroom beforehand, because once the performance begins, you won’t be allowed to return to your seat if you leave.

What audiences are saying about Art

As of writing, Art holds an audience rating of 87% on the review aggregator Show-Score, with viewers especially praising the script and James Corden’s performance. Others note its pacing and humor.

• “One of the greatest philosophical plays of all time matched very well with the sitcom sensibility of these actors. Original and thought-provoking. If you think the script is thin, I hate you.” - Show-Score user Daniel P.
• “Fun, funny, great acting by all three leads. The rant by James Corden is next level.” - Show-Score user Jule D.
• “Very enjoyable play. The friend dynamic is real and relatable. The acting is exceptional. James Corden is outstanding.” - Show-Score user Sarah 9
• “Great show and great chemistry among the actors. Some very funny spots. I felt it slowed in the middle when it felt like they looped around the same thing a couple of times. But it's all part of the point of the show. I'd see it again.” - Show-Score user Robb R.
• “It was very slow and extremely dry, sparing humor, but I love the cast and the performance was great!” - Show-Score user Natasha R.

Read more audience reviews of Art on Show-Score.

Who should see Art

• Theatregoers who like comedies will enjoy Art. Fans of James Corden will see him hit his stride as Yvan, a role that is perfectly cast.
• Those who enjoy playwright Yasmina Reza’s other works will enjoy Art. Her dark comedy God of Carnage won the Tony Award for Best New Play in 2009 and was revived off Broadway at Theatre Row in 2023.
• Theatregoers who like thought-provoking plays will enjoy Art, which fuses art criticism, sharp humor, and a deep exploration of friendship. Art is as provocative as it was when it first debuted in 1998.

Learn more about Art on Broadway

This three-hander comedy blends philosophical debate, deep friendship, and biting humor, brought to life by the memorable Bobby Cannavale, James Corden, and Neil Patrick Harris.

Photo credit: Art on Broadway. (Photos by Matthew Murphy)