Reviews
Steve Martin’s Picasso at the Lapin Agile: Now-Feb. 13 @ The Complex’s East Theatre
By Ariel Paredes, Campus Circle
Director Justin Gordon has brought forth an authentic feel of an early 20th century France in his adaptation of Steve Martin’s “Picasso at the Lapin Agile.” The play is witty, well paced, thought provoking and clever.
The production takes place during 1904, in France, which was the epicenter of culture and creative thought at the turn of the 20th century. The country was bursting with energy and a passion for change.
The play takes place at a small bar in Montmartre, where all varieties of creative minds come to gather and bounce thoughts and ideas off one another. We meet a young Albert Einstein, right before he publishes his tour de force, Special Theory of Relativity, and a young Pablo Picasso, who is just a few years away from painting Les Demoiselles d’Avignon. They both argue that their particular art is more significant and has a greater impact than the other one’s. The main characters debate this along with the other patrons in the bar.
The play brings out numerous laughs and characters that are brilliant surprises. We can see the appeal of Picasso as he woos women with his work, yet is tortured by his artistic sensibilities. The brilliantly cast Einstein makes a case that he too has ideas that are going to change the world. They make contemporary references and are able to laugh at themselves. There are moments when the cast literally connects with the audience by interacting with them, and the audience wall between patron and participant is broken!
Steve Martin manages to not be melancholic about the passing of the previous century, by looking at the approaching one with an optimistic enthusiasm from two of the new century’s most influential individuals.
Keep a look out for Schmendiman! Once you see the play, you will always remember him.
With a strong cast and humor in all the right spots, this play is a real success.
PICASSO AT THE LAPIN AGILE Review - a play by Steve Martin
It’s October, 1904 in Paris, France. Young Albert Einstein and young Pablo Picasso meet at a bar to discuss philosophy, politics and women.
Picasso at the Lapin Agile,written by Steve Martin and directed by Justin Gordon, is a fun romp through history set against the dawn of the twentieth century.
The pair, who do not know each other, both find themselves at the same bar. Albert (Jonathan Biver), who had promised to meet his girlfriend down the street, comes into the bar precisely because she knows that he would not expect her to meet at the place that they determined. Pablo ( Brandon Morgan) enters looking for women to seduce and finds Suzanne ( Betsy Mugavero) a prior conquest.
The bar is owned by Freddy (Andrew McCarty) and his girlfriend, Germaine(Maria Pallas) who have equal contributions to the philosophical/scientific arguments. They are joined by Gaston ( Joe Thomas) and art dealer Sagot (Brian Normoyle).
Picasso: the group shot - the visitor (Aaron Golden), Germaine, Freddy, Gaston
The two men dispute which is better – the creative art or the scientific mind – as they debate the future of men. They’re interrupted by the appearance of Charles Dabernow Schmendiman ( Quinn Mattfeld) an inventor of a curious new building material who claims his share of fame.
Joining the ever growing crowd is a time traveling visitor ( Aaron Golden) who plays the part of Elvis and adds his own philosophy.
Witty and amusing, the dialogue is also thought provoking. We, of the present time, know the future they talk of but it’s still interesting and somewhat funny, when Germaine says that Hiroshima will be…modernized. This is two famous creative men, Albert Einstein and Pablo Picasso, set against each other at a time when the world was ready for both artistic and scientific inventions. Ultimately, they both agree that the creative act is beautiful, in of itself.
Picasso - Einstein (Jonathan Biver), Germaine (Maria Pallas), Freddy (Andrew McCarty) and Gaston
Betsy Mugavero, a brilliant actress, plays the parts not only of Suzanne, but also The Countess and the Female Admirer. The others were equally engaging but having to play multiple parts is not easy.
Picasso - Gaston(Joe Thomas) and Suzann
Actor Andrew McCarty was also the producer and scenic designer. Lightning was done by Sara Nishida and costume by Lisa Eckman. Besides directing, Justin Gordon also did sound design. Sets were constructed by Brandon Morgan, Brian Bowen, Justin Gordon and Andrew McCarty.
The one act play is short but engaging.
