Art, like beauty, is often times in the eye of the beholder. In the upcoming production of the play Art at UW-La Crosse on Aug. 6 and 7, art, and its subjectivity, becomes the issue du jour among three friends after one buys a very expensive piece of artwork: a blank canvas with a few slashes of white. Second Supper recently sat down with one of the actors, Colin Thelen, to discuss art, the highs and lows of theatre life, and some truly fantastic yet terrible ideas for musicals.
Second Supper: So tell us a little bit about your character in Art.
Colin Thelen: I play Marc. Serge (played by Kevin Fenshaw) buys this painting for what Marc believes is an exorbitant amount of money. Marc is flabbergasted about it while Yvan (played by Tim McCarren) sort of plays both sides.
SS: This production is a student-run production. How does that compare to other productions?
CT: It’s a little bit 5,000 Lbs.-esque. It’s not as rigid. Fenshaw found the play and got the ball rolling. There is a hierarchy like other shows with actors, directors, stage managers but there is more collaboration. We feel like we have more of a say or voice.
SS: Since the play revolves so much around what art is, has it made you question your own beliefs about art or just reinforced long-held ones?
CT: It speaks so much to the subjectivity of art, especially modern art. You have the Mona Lisa and everybody would qualify it as art. I’ve always been open-minded. If it’s creative with intent, it’s art. For Marc, it’s about the painting but it’s also not. It’s more about the friendship and the painting is the straw that broke the camel’s back.
SS: The play hinges on the idea of you three being really good friends. Did having worked with each other before in productions help the camaraderie come together faster?
CT: Having known the guys before, it exponentially helps it. The danger of the play is the audience going, “Why would they even be friends? Why don’t they just leave the room?” But underneath it all they love each other. So working together before helps that. Plus, we all live like a block away from each other [laughs].
SS: So what are your acting plans for the future?
CT: Katie Bakalars [his girlfriend and fellow thespian] and I are going to hit the audition circuits. I would to like to pursue and get some paid jobs. Who wouldn’t want to go to a job that puts a smile on their face? There are always opportunities to make it for yourself finding a venue — that’ll let you put on a show. I’ve been impressed with La Crosse and its receptiveness to theatre. This is a breeding ground of talent.
SS: So one last question, what current pop cultural event do you think would make a good musical?
CT: I don’t know, is it too soon for a children’s show about the BP oil spill?
SS: Either that or maybe a romantic comedy musical called Oil and Water about a BP executive who falls in love with an environmentalist.
CT: We’ve got some golden ideas.
SS: It’s a Sandra Bullock/Hugh Grant just begging to be made.
Art is playing at Frederick Theatre, Morris Hall on the UW-L campus Aug. 6 and 7 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are available at the door only, one hour prior to each performance. Suggested ticket donation is $5 with the proceeds going to support UW-La Crosse theatre student scholarships.
— Jonathan Majak |
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