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Broadway's Best

It's time for the annual Tony Awards
and 'Art" is the odds-on favorite to win for Best Play.
Meet one of its stars
London, Ontario, native Victor Garber.

ALICE BURDICK SCHWEIGER

Special to The Jewish News

IV

hen actor Victor Garber
saw the play Art in
London, he thought it
was incredible. But he
wasn't sure if he would be cast in the
Broadway production. The director
was still in the decision-making
process, and Garber only hoped that
he would land a role.
"I knew that I was being considered
for a part, but there were no guaran-
tees," Garber says from his dress-
ing room on a recent Wednesday
between his matinee and evening
performances. "I read the script
and wanted to see it in London
no matter what."
When Garber returned to
New York, he heard the good
news that he was cast as Serge,
one of the leads in the three-man
ensemble. "I rarely wanted any-
thing that badly and didn't care
which role they gave me. I'm glad
it worked out," he says.
Not surprisingly, Art, written
by young French playwright
Yasmina Reza and translated into
English by Christopher
Hampton, was nominated for a
Tony -Award in the Best Play cat-
egory. It opened on Broadway in
March to rave reviews.
Set in France, the story is
about three middle-aged, long-
time friends, Serge (Garber), a
successful dermatologist; Marc
(Alan Alda), a self-assured aero-
nautical engineer; and Yvan
(Alfred Molina), a struggling
businessman who's started a new
job in a stationary company.
Serge has just purchased a costly,
stark, white-on-white modern paint-
ing, despite the disapproval of his pals.

Alice Burdick Schweiger is an Ann
Arbor-based freelance writer.

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98

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Marc laughs at the blank canvas,
and Yvan, who is dealing with his own
insecurities, lets his opinion be known
as well. Offended by their brutal hon-
esty, Serge strikes back with a caustic
tongue. The three wind up engaging
in comical, yet biting, dialogue as
their friendship begins to crumble.
Just as works of art engender many
interpretations, so do the actions and
reactions of the three characters.
"It's a very provocative play," notes
Garber. "It's a serious drama disguised
as a comedy. I think it has a different

sensibility than the British production
— the American version has more
passion and emotion."
Although it was Alfred Molina
who landed the Tony nomination for
Best Leading Actor, Garber says he
couldn't be happier for his friend.
"Everyone is always looking for the
scoop behind the scenes, and since
Fred got the Tony nomination, they
are saying, Are you OK?' But I
couldn't be happier for him — he's so
deserving."
Working with Alda and Molina,

it-W vFINz,

Above: Victor Garber: Thrilled to be
a part of the Tony Award-nominated
"Art."

Above right: Al ed Molina, Victor
Garber and Alan Alda in "Art," an
ensemble piece about a "bare" painting
that strips bare a friendship.

"The 52nd Annual Tony
Awards," with host Rosie
O'DonnelL will be broadcast live
from Radio City Music Hall 7-9
p.m. Sunday, June 7, on CBS-
Channel 62. Some PBS stations
are scheduled to broadcast
"Broadway '98: Launching the
Tonys," a special that will
include the presentation of 10
additional awards, from 8-9
p.m. Sunday, June 7. At press
time, local PBS affiliate WTVS-
Channel 56 could not confirm
the airing of this program; spe-
cial pledge programming was
scheduled. For other PBS sta-
tions that may broadcast
"Broadway '98: Launching the
Tonys," check your local cable
listings.

Garber goes on to say, has been a real
joy. "From the very first day we met,
there was a kind of uncanny chem-
istry, almost as if we really have been
friends for 15 years," says Garber.
"There are no barriers or defenses
in our work, and I think that's what
makes it very special for the audience.
No one is trying to outdo anyone —
we are all completely connected to one
other."
Prior to his role in Art, Garber was
working on a hit of different sorts —
the blockbuster film Titanic.
Garber played the
ship's designer, the
first person to com-
p prebend the
impending disaster.
He never anticipated
the overwhelming
hype and adulation
the movie has
received. "I don't
think anyone did,"
says Garber.
"I think one of
fi
the reasons for its
immense popularity
is that it's one of the
most harrowing tales of our time. And
it stars two people who are very
appealing to an audience — young
people in particular."
With both Art and Titanic earning
national acclaim, Garber is enjoying
one of the best years of his life. In
fact, it's been a year he has dreamed
about since he was a teenager.
Born and raised in London,
Ontario, Garber's first aspiration was
to become a singer. He dropped out of
high school and moved to Toronto to
try to make it in the music world.
"I was a folk singer pursuing a
career," recalls Garber, who never
took any formal singing lessons.
"Four of us — two men and two
women — formed a group called
`The Sugar Shop.' We styled ourselves
after The Mamas And The Papas and