Review: Life Imitates Art in “The Collaboration”

In 1982, a collaboration between Jean-Michel Basquiat and Andy Warhol was born, this is the story of that collaboration.

“The Collaboration” is now on Broadway at the Samuel J. Friedman theatre!

The play is a Manhattan Theatre Club production written by Academy Award nominated writer Anthony McCarten and directed by Kwame Kwei-Armah. 

Paul Bettany and Erik Jensen // Photo by Jeremy Daniel

As the curtain rises, Bruno Bischofberger (Erik Jensen), a gallerist and collector, begins speaking and suddenly the spark of a collaboration is lit. We then see Andy Warhol (Paul Bettany) arrive on stage and Bischofberg pitches the idea of working with Jean-Michel Basquiat (Jeremy Pope).

There’s doubt on both sides. Both artists have this large sense of superiority. And they’re complete opposites as well. Basquiat paints, Warhol prints. Basquiat hates capitalism, Warhol thrives on the world’s love of it. And arguably the biggest difference, Basquiat is a 20-something year old Black man with his career ahead of him and Warhol has already cemented his legacy in his 50s. 

Jeremy Pope and Paul Bettany in “The Collaboation.” // Photo by Jeremy Daniel

There’s hesitation about sharing their art along with their most deep personal feelings and thoughts. Warhol has such a curiosity in the ambiguity that Basquiat presents. He asks too many questions that often pushes Basquiat away. He films everything, almost examining Basquiat under a microscope. As the story unravels, so do both artists. Warhol insecurities run skin deep. Basquiat is not as fearless as he seems. His spirituality is tested. Their relationship becomes so beautifully horrifying. However, “The Collaboration” gives both artists the grace of learning that their pain is meant to be shared. What brings them together is that shared pain. 

Up until recently, the details of Basquiat and Warhol friendship seemed to be unknown. “The Collaboration” is only the beginning of that friendship. It’s quite precious actually to envision how both men intracted with each other. The dialogue in the show is quite humorous, but as the show leads into the second act the laughs pause, and everything is silent.

Jeremy Pope as Jean-Micheal Basquiat is outstanding. He captures Basquiat’s eccentric personality to a tee. It’s not perfect at times but it feels real. Pope is arguably one of the best young male actors in the industry right now. From his performance in “The Inspection” this year to being a two-time Tony nominee in the same year in 2019, he’s truly making his presence known within every medium you see him in. Bettany is a tour de force. He’s brilliant as Warhol. Humorous, odd, even awkward at times. It’s great to see the actor step back from Marvel and onto Broadway. Together both actors are unstoppable—giving meaning to the word collaboration. 

Every moment of this show affected me. As a fan of both artists and as a fan of theater, I felt such joy in knowing that the stories of these artists aren’t just alive in their works in galleries. They live through this show and anyone that has the opportunity to see it. 

Today would’ve been Basquiat’s 62nd Birthday. He died in 1988—a year after Warhol. It’s quite unreal to believe that a collaboration between two of the greatest artists of all-time would occur only a few short years  before they both passed. 

When I left the theater, all I could think about was how the world will never know Basquiat and Warhol like they knew each other. This was more than a story about a friendship. It’s about second chances, death, shame, pity, and belonging.

“The Collaboration” is simply beautiful.