The Most Deserving @ City Ctr is Most Deserving of Praise

Playwright Catherine Trieschmann previous works have been performed at City Ctr for the Women's Project.  Her new play is entertainingly funny & insightful.  Trieschmann delves into human nature and the relevance of art & humanity.  This 1 act, 6 character play is packed with cutting dialogue & cunning characters.  The drama revolves around an arts committee in a small Kansas town.  The art group is voting to allocate a $20,000 art award to a local artist of minority heritage with financial needs who shows artistic promise.  Artistic talent is a subjective assessment where "beauty lies in the eye of the beholder."  There are valid arguments made that art is meant to provoke awareness and instill motivation.  This sparkling comedy reveals master manipulating, self-serving members who elect the recipient of the financial stipend.  The arts com. is overseen by Jolene (Veanne Cox) whose spiteful marriage with fellow member Ted (Daniel Pearce) is uproariously farcical.   Other board members consist of a rich widow whose husband was a major benefactor, Dwayne a dimwitted self-proclaimed artist and Liz, a young assoc. art prof. at the community college.  Liz strongly advocates for Everett, a local black artist, confined to a wheelchair whose art is made from materials he forages.  "One man's trash is another man's treasure." Everett (Ray Anthony Thomas) gives a powerhouse performance."  The Most Deserving is a crazy collage of comedy & drama that make for a work of art.