Art, the lean, intermissionless 90-minute French play about the nature of friendship and art, will close Aug. 8 after 600 performances and 20 previews at the Royale Theatre.

A national tour begins Sept. 14 in San Francisco, starring Judd Hirsch, who has appeared in the play on Broadway and in London.

Various trios of stars played the roles of three friends who bicker over a white-on-white painting, revealing the cracks in their fragile relationships. Alan Alda, Victor Garber and Alfred Molina originated the Broadway roles and helped earn the play, by Yasmina Reza, a 1998 Tony Award for Best Play. Art opened March 1, 1998.

The translation is by Christopher Hampton. The comedy recouped its investment on Broadway in six weeks.

The current Broadway cast includes Buck Henry, Wayne Knight, and George Segal. Other casts included Brian Cox, Henry Goodman and David Haig; and Judd Hirsch, Joe Morton and George Wendt. Reza's play The Unexpected Man, starring Eileen Atkins, is expected on Broadway in the 1999-2000 season.