ART The Play Melbourne Review: Richard Roxburgh, Damon Herriman & Toby Schmitz Deliver Razor-Sharp Comedy Gold
By Jake Freeman
A who’s who of stars gathered at the Comedy Theatre last Thursday evening for the opening night of ART The Play Melbourne. Celebrities including Stefan Dennis, Sigrid Thornton, Waleed Aly, and Mitch Brown lit up the red carpet.
Written by acclaimed French playwright Yasmina Reza, ART first premiered in 1994 and has since been translated and performed worldwide. The award-winning production has taken home both the Laurence Olivier Award and the Tony Award, cementing its place as one of the most celebrated comedies of modern theatre. At its core, ART The Play is a razor-sharp exploration of friendship, ego, and the chaos a single opinion can ignite.
At the centre of the story is Serge (Damon Herriman), a well-to-do dermatologist who purchases a white painting for €160,000. That decision fractures his close-knit friendship group. Marc (Richard Roxburgh), a cynical aeronautical engineer, is appalled that Serge would spend such an amount, scornfully dismissing it as “a piece of white shit.” Serge defends the artwork’s value, citing the reputation of the artist, but Marc remains unconvinced, questioning not only the painting but the very foundation of their friendship.
Caught in the middle is Yvan (Toby Schmitz), a drifting stationer and habitual peacemaker. Attempting neutrality, he offers carefully measured opinions to both sides—politely acknowledging the painting’s merit to Serge while subtly agreeing with Marc’s disbelief. His indecision becomes another fault line in the trio’s dynamic.
Several nights later, the three reunite for dinner, and what begins as a disagreement escalates into a full-blown confrontation. The painting becomes a proxy for deeper grievances, as long-held frustrations, and personal insecurities surface. Marc criticises Yvan’s inability to form firm opinions, labelling him a “suck-up” amidst tensions with his fiancée and family. Meanwhile, Serge challenges Marc’s rigid worldview and refusal to accept differing perspectives.
ART The Play Melbourne is a truly unique and remarkable production. One of its most compelling aspects is watching a group of middle-aged men openly dissect their emotions, egos, and vulnerabilities—territory more commonly explored in female-led narratives. It’s refreshing, raw and unexpectedly relatable.
Most importantly, the production delivers 90 minutes of brilliantly crafted dialogue and exceptional performances. Rarely does the audience get a moment to breathe between waves of laughter. At times, even the actors appear to flirt with breaking character, joining in the audience’s amusement—only adding to the charm of the experience.
The chemistry between the cast is undeniable, making this one of the finest examples of ensemble acting seen on a Melbourne stage in recent years. Each performer is given space to shine, and it’s nearly impossible to single out a standout—such is the strength of the trio.
With biting wit and pitch-perfect timing, ART explores how the smallest, often unspoken tensions can spiral into something far greater. Watching opening night, it evoked the spirit of Seinfeld—a show famously about “nothing,” yet capable of turning the most trivial moments into comedic brilliance.
ART The Play Melbourne is now showing until Sunday, 17 May at the Comedy Theatre, 240 Exhibition Street. The production stars Richard Roxburgh as Marc, Damon Herriman as Serge, and Toby Schmitz as Yvan, and is directed by Lee Lewis.
The show runs for 90 minutes with no interval. Latecomers will not be admitted, and re-entry is not permitted. Please note, the production contains coarse language and adult themes.
