Picasso and Einstein walk into a bar
Rating: 4
Picasso at the Lapin Agile
Olathe Community Theatre Association
Steve Martin is a very very smart guy who made his career playing a very very dumb character. His first stage play, Picasso at the Lapin Agile allows him to play on these two contrasting aspects of his nature. The play has become a popular mainstay of regional and community theaters for this reason: it's very smart and funny.
If you don't know the play, it takes place in The Lapin Agile, a Parisian bar/cafe, in 1903. Einstein is waiting for his date, who he arranged to meet at a different place and time, but knowing her thought processes assumes she will meet him here. The bar owner and his wife chat with an older patron, while a comely beauty comes in looking for Picasso. Picasso's agent comes in first, then the man himself. Eventually they are visited by a man from the future. Mostly, they talk about art and the twentieth century.
The fourth wall is broken repeatedly, starting when Einstein is told that his has entered too early to be in order of appearance as seen in the program. The intermission occurs when the actors decide they need a break. The beginning of the second act includes a quick redo of act one, to get everyone up to date.
OCTA's production of this is able in all instances and in a few cases, superlative.Michael Bunn is a delight as Einstein and Reed Uthe is wonderful as the aged Gaston, whose monologue regarding the last time he made love a comic highlight. Jessica Franz provides a wonderful performance as a once and future lover of Picasso and Amy Arnott steals her scenes in duel roles as Einstein's date and a crass groupie. I would be amiss if I did not mention the incredibly energetic performance of Bill Case as Schmendiman, a man of action.
Lovely production. Go see it.
read the review at KC Stage
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