Mar 20 β€’ 04:30 UTC πŸ‡ΈπŸ‡ͺ Sweden SVT Nyheter

Review: 'The Patron' by Julia Thelin

The play 'The Patron' follows a cleaner who pretends to be an art guide and ultimately adopts the identity of a wealthy gallery owner.

In 'The Patron,' a cleaner dreams of breaking into the art world, despite her complete lack of knowledge about art. She pretends to be a guide at the art hall where she works, but after being fired, she chooses to double down on her deception by stealing the identity of a wealthy gallery owner who has left her house unguarded. Using this new alias, she convinces two naive young artists from a gallery opening to come back to the luxurious villa with her.

The play draws parallels to the theme of the underprivileged infiltrating the upper-class domains, reminiscent of the Oscar-winning South Korean film 'Parasite' (2019). 'The Patron' provides a satirical twist on the arbitrary judges of taste and financiers within the art world. The protagonist, portrayed masterfully by Carla Sehn, is depicted as a ruthless and selfish character, evoking a mix of admiration and disdain, much like the family in Bong Joon Ho's celebrated work.

The performances of the cleaner and the two young boys, played by Max Cunningham and Lucas Lynggaar, add depth to the narrative, showcasing their desperate aspirations within the art community. As the plot unfolds, it raises questions about identity, ambition, and the lengths to which individuals will go to achieve their dreams, making it a thought-provoking commentary on societal divides.

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