LA Daily News

*** (Out of Four)
By Julio Martinez - Correspondent

Having its West Coast premiere at Burbank-based Victory Theatre, Keith Bunin's "The Credeaux Canvas" spotlights the machinations of three 20-something friends who conspire to swindle an elderly art patron because of their shared need to make something happen in their lives before they are enveloped by ever-encroaching middle age.

As these three desperately needy youths make their cathartic journey into larceny, they are buoyed by Bunin's captivating dialogue and the impressively intuitive staging of Paul Nicolai Stein. The production falters with its less than satisfying final scene but that is certainly not the fault of an outstanding four-member ensemble.

The action is set entirely in the East Village walkup of single-minded art student Winston (played by Johnny Clark) and his emotionally fragile roommate Jamie (Matt Skaja). Both of these young men are struggling with identity crises.

As an artist, Winston is a masterful technician with the creative zeal of a genius but only a hack’s talent. The always-effervescent Jamie, who was once hospitalized for attempted suicide, has been holding down a dead end job selling real estate. His main source of comfort is his relationship with his comely girlfriend Amelia (Kimberly-Rose), a struggling pop vocalist who spends more time waitressing than singing.

When Jamie's successful art dealer father dies and cuts him completely out of his will, Jamie hatches a scheme to use Winston's skill at copying the style of deceased French artist Jean-Paul Credeaux to swindle Tess (Marilyn McIntyre), one of his father's wealthiest clients. Central to his plans is the co-operation of his Amelia, who must pose in the nude for Winston.

Bunin's dialogue is delicious amalgam of humor and angst. The humor is supplied mostly by Clark's intensely quirky portrayal of an artist who is aware of his own limitations but has no emotional choice but to keep on painting. His exquisitely timed one-liners reflect Winston's placid objectivity as he accepts Jamie's schemes and Amelia's growing infatuation for him with total emotional detachment.

Kimberly-Rose is endearingly fragile and hauntingly beautiful in her portrayal of Amelia. Her extended nude scene posing for Winston is highlighted by Amelia's transformation from an embarrassed, doubtful conspirator in her boyfriend's scheme to a glowing vessel of passion when she comes to the self-deluded realization that Winston may be her true soul mate.Skaja is perfect as the life-challenged Jamie who always seems on the verge of emotional overload. McIntyre's steely-eyed Tess, the Peggy Guggenheim-like art patron, appears in only one scene but in it she completely overpowers the callow deceivers.