Pablo Picasso and Albert Einstein meet
at the turn of the 20th century to discuss the important things
in life: are they out to change the world or do they just want
to meet some girls?
The Sackett Group’s production of actor Steve Martin’s 1993 smart
comedy, "Picasso At the Lapin Agile," directed by Don
Lebowitz-Nowak, opened at Fort Greene’s Brooklyn Music School
Playhouse on Sept. 15. The play marks the second season of shows
produced by the theater company that is dedicated to developing
itself as a professional regional theater.
With Martin’s comedic writing, practically anyone could have
been on stage reading the lines and it still would have gotten
laughs, but the energetic cast at the Playhouse delivered his
jokes with excellent timing and exuberance. It was hard to come
upon a dull moment, especially with the random appearance of
an Elvis-esque country boy visiting from the future. The audience
was as confused and amused as the 1904 bar patrons on stage.
The play’s action unfolds against the set of the Lapin Agile,
an artists’ watering hole in Paris. Germaine (Anna Pond) and
Freddy (Peter Bonilla) own the hangout, where regulars include
Pablo Picasso (Billy Lane), Albert Einstein (Mark Cajigao), some
Picasso groupies, and a strangely blunt yet endearing old man,
Gaston (John Scheffler), who announces in every scene that he
has to pee.
Because of the title, you assume that Picasso is the main character,
which he is, but the entire production is driven by the many
personalities and combination of talent. Each actor has his own
moment to develop his persona, even though the play takes place
over the course of one day and within the same bar.
After a dueling of the pencils over who is the more talented
creator – with Einstein on the verge of finishing "The Special
Theory of Relativity" and Picasso about to paint the famed
"Les Demoiselles D’Avignon" – the two inevitably join
together in recognition that they are both shaping the 20th century.
Sound cliche? Germaine certainly thought so and makes a point
to laugh at the two, saying that they only use their genius to
make up for the fact that neither is handsome.
You can’t help but think Germaine is right when Picasso makes
his grand entrance into Lapin Agile, stating to all in the bar
he has been thinking about sex all day, and proceeds to hit on
every female in his path, ready to seduce them with his artistic
passion.
Although much of the character interactions are humorous and
silly, the play does have a cerebral side.
Bar owners Germaine and Freddy say they are Romanticism (neo-
or post-? It was never fully decided upon) and Symbolism, respectively.
This is easy to dismiss when the characters briefly talk about
it, but you understand that their attitudes match their given
literary devices when you see Germaine’s thirst for life, and
Freddy transform from a simple character to making profound judgments.
The characters of Germaine and Freddy are in a relationship,
and complement each other, just as the manic Picasso becomes
practical Einstein’s foil.
"Picasso at the Lapin Agile" is filled with plays on
words and plays on intellectuals. In talking about life, Einstein
and Picasso predict that in the 20th century, the movement of
a pencil creating art will be greater than any political movements,
although everyone laughs at Germaine when she predicts the success
of computers, wide use of airplanes and popularity of the Beatles.
The Lapin Agile, one room with scattered tables, blue walls and
a stocked bar, has two faces, making it easy for anyone on-stage
or off- to enjoy: Are you looking for clever jokes or thoughtful
consideration about the future of civilization? The patrons of
the Lapin Agile raise the question: Does your mind stretch in
hope of being one of the country’s next great geniuses or can
it focus only on picking up the blonde at the bar?
The Sackett Group’s production of "Picasso
At the Lapin Agile" plays The Brooklyn Music School Playhouse
(216 Felix St. at Hanson Place in Fort Greene) through Oct. 1.
Performances are Thursday through Saturday at 8 pm, and at 3
pm on Sundays. Tickets are $20. For more information and to order
tickets, call (212) 352-3101 or visit www.sackettgroup.org.
