Two Visions of Art Profoundly Collide in “The Collaboration”
“The Collaboration” | Photo by Jeremy Daniel
The opinions reflected in this review are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of staff, faculty and students of The King's College.
Most people familiar with modern art in New York City are probably familiar with painters Andy Warhol and Jean-Michel Basquiat. This season, Warhol and Basquiat appear on Broadway, portrayed as artists collaborating on a series of paintings that reflect the convergence of their contrasting approaches to art. Recently opened at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre, “The Collaboration” is a profound and engaging exploration of modern art and the ups and downs of the artists behind some of the most iconic paintings of the late twentieth century.
At first reluctant to engage in a collaborative project with the other, Warhol, a faded star in the art world, and Basquiat, a rising, proficient prodigy, eventually begin meeting to work on their project. As time progresses, the two become friends and push the other to excel as an artist by approaching art from a different perspective. The play’s book has been criticized for its historical inaccuracies, but the plot is more concerned with the themes of legacy, success and the purpose of art.
The greatest part of this production is the performances of the two leads. Paul Bethany captures the essence of Andy Warhol in his obsessed, engaging portrayal of the awkward artist, while Jeremy Pope returns to Broadway with his child-like portrayal of Basquiat as an innocent young man escaping inward from the trauma of the world around him.
“The Collaboration” is directed by Kwame Kwei-Armah and written by Anthony McCarten. While the play is clearly written for the niche audience of modern art lovers and fans of Warhol and Basquiat, this production is worth checking out during its brief run on Broadway.
The Collaboration is currently running at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre through January 29, 2022.
Eli Johnson is the Theatre Columnist for the Empire State Tribune. He is a freshman at The King's College majoring in Business. He is an avid theatre-goer and always enjoys a game of chess.