←Recommendations of AN APPRECIATION

Art, at is best, serves as a mirror for society; reflecting back the complexities of the human experience, commenting on society, and leading us on a journey towards self discovery. Steven G. Martins short immersive play “An Appreciation” does all this and more in a mere 10-minutes. Bravo, sir. A trip to the gallery well spent.

Like any work of art, there are a few ways to look at this play. It's well-crafted and clever, sure, but it's also dense and layered. And the big reveal, when it comes, is something that I can only imagine as a living, breathing MOMENT that an audience will sit with and take home with them and keep forever. Lovely work.

A truly beautiful work of art. Steven G. Martin has come up with an ingenious concept for incorporating the audience in a completely immersive experience. I can’t help but imagine myself as an audience member, wondering what my unique contribution is and how it adds to the whole. And maybe that’s the point. How wonderful.

One of my favorite experiences as a member of the audience. Making the audience a part of the show evokes emotions that you can't feel until it happens to you. Exquisite work from a master of his craft.

Such an unexpectedly touching show. If you are a patron of the arts this show will touch you. If you happen to be an artist then this show will move you far more than a normal theater-goer. Beautiful.

A theatrical Marina Abramović-like piece of theatre. Lovely. I can see this working in so many spaces. "Beautiful".

What seems to be an everyday civic art unveiling becomes a moving and breathtaking moment of the power of imagination – and the power of art. I love that the mysterious piece of artwork is unseen, except in our own imaginations. And how beautiful that the audience becomes the art that the actors are moved by – such an intense connection.

What does a Creator have, when everyone mercilessly criticizes his work?...then we find out the "work" is the audience itself! A very amusing play on the theme of art appreciation.

Sometimes the point of going to a gallery is to appreciate good art, and sometimes it's to BE SEEN appreciating good art. There's a vast chasm between the two, and Steve Martin brilliantly gives us both experiences in this rich and delightful short play. The dialogue in the beginning is sharp and funny, and the payoff at the end is — well, it's a work of art.
Bravo!

I saw this performed at a short play festival this weekend, and it just happened to be the perfect opener for post-pandemic times, even though it’s not about that at all. Emotionally pitch-perfect, funny, and bit pointed, too. I admire Martin’s more experimental work and this is one of his best. Recommended!