←Recommendations of /ärt/

Those who enjoy Oscar Wilde’s “The Importance of Being Earnest” will find Martin’s language and exuberant conflicts delightful. In this witty send-up of a third-grade art competition, a larger art world is satirized: the jargon of critics, their pretension, and especially competition itself. The children caught in the middle of this fierce battle of judges end up showing us how true art might flourish, but their adult “teachers” can’t learn anything from them.

/ärt/ is a cute satire about art competitions, and elementary school. Martin uses over the top characters and extreme circumstances to turn a lens on the ways we think about kids and art and kids' art. The hot headed teachers are counterpoised with children who resist attempts to turn their classroom drawings into high art. These two little girls prove that the best art is collaborative, and reject the divisiveness of the competition. What a delightful short play!

This little gem reminds me of the passage in Israel Zangwill's "The Melting Pot" which makes the point that if you put four critics in a room, they will conclude either they've heard a good piece performed well, a good piece performed badly, a bad piece performed well, or a bad piece performed badly. I'm sure playwright Martin has his eye winking at the arbitrariness of judging all types of competitions, but he makes the joke funnier by letting on only 2/3 through that the artists are little girls (who don't give a crap and become friends). And the names!

For as much fun and hilarity that the play delivers, there's also a lot of heart underneath. It brought to mind the Picasso quote, "It took me four years to paint like Raphael, but a lifetime to paint like a child." When we only see art as either good or bad, we lose touch with a lot of the joy that art can provide. That said, Martin's play is not only very good, but it offers audiences a lot of joy.

Martin really nails the world. The absurdity, the language, the "high stakes." Well-made, and such fun. Actors will have a ball with it. And so will the audience.

A hilarious play about elitism in art. The every-man character in Mrs. Kerry perfectly offsets the other two pompous judges, creating a great dynamic. Funny, simple, and with a heart warming ending.

“Nothing escapes judgement.” Martin uses that line and runs amok with it. Should art be competitive? In this delightful romp, it is the children who know the answer.

This is a fun an d clever play. I love how the adults behave like children while the children are mature enough to rise above the occasion. I also enjoy the whip smart insults that remind me of some of my favorite theatre and TV characters.

Nothing but absolute sheer delight here. Martin is so incredibly clever--the premise in and of itself is enough, but the execution is flawless. Every line is absolutely hilarious. But more than just the silliness is the tender heart in the center of the play--a gentle mocking at the way adults tend to take things too seriously and put too much pressure on children. I love that the two little girls, without hesitation, become friends at the end. Martin infuses every play he writes with joy, hope, and sweet humor. Read this if you need a pick me up.

Another gem by Steven G. Martin that's so damn funny and just a blast to read. I would like to see a marathon of his plays at some point because they sing on the page and I am sure they would ignite the stage with crowd-pleasing laughter and joy. But just like so many good plays that are great, the greatness comes from that reflection of the world around us, giving us a spot-on peek at just how to defeat those Mrs. Nottings and Mrs. Crulls out there in this world with a good dose of collaboration.