Art, Haymarket Theatre, Until April 30

IF YOU thought it was just the female of the species who liked to get over-sensitive and have picky arguments with friends, family and whoever else happens to get in the way, a surprise awaits you in the production of Art.

Its brief duration (just 90 minutes) is consumed by the arrogance, upsets and failings of three male life-long friends, all because one of them - Serge, played by Simon Shepherd - has bought a canvas costing a king's ransom.

Trouble is, it's a completely white painting of white lines with a white border, and so, before you can say "emperor's new clothes", his mate Marc (Russell Boutler) is all in a tizz because he thinks Serge has become completely pretentious.

Then poor, hapless Yvan (Michael Garner), who is already on the brink thanks to his upcoming wedding and the turmoils of his mothers-in-law, gets dragged into the row by Marc, who can't believe that he won't be honest about what he really thinks of the painting.

And so, for the remainder of the play, we watch as the situation escalates, with each man resorting to petty insults and accusation, and how all those years of friendship can go out the window in a flash.

Art, translated from its native French by the wonderful Christopher Hampton, has played for many years to great success in the West End, so the opportunity to sample its success right on our doorsteps is worth a trip.

Its starkly minimalist setting platforms the actors, who have been well cast to type.

Garner is appealing as the sensitive soul of the bunch, while Boulter has developed a wonderfully authentic edge to his cynicism and scepticism - he had me on his side.

But when it came to the crunch, Art left me cold and slightly bored, apathetically watching some men shouting. I found the evaluation of the trio by their taste in painting peculiar and a little simplistic.

However, given that appreciation of art is, of course, a very personal matter, perhaps it's most fair to recommend that each man should judge Art, the play, for himself.

Book your tickets by calling the Haymarket box office on 0870 770 1088.