Here’s to Picasso!
Picasso at the Lapin Agile, by the one and only Steve Martin, imagines a night where Albert Einstein meets Pablo Picasso in a bar at the dawn of the 20th century. The show is full of whimsical nonsense and dabbles in philosophical intellectualism. Picasso is a blend of high and low-brow comedy, combining sexual innuendo with absurd jokes about pies. Directed by Sarah Smith, Picasso is being performed in the little theatre at Midland Center for the Arts. It was an icy night outside, but the warm camaraderie of the cast and their lively performance resulted in an amusing night full of laughter.
Smith has cast the show well and insures that every character onstage is endeared to the audience. Stephen Fort embodies the charmingly narcissistic Picasso, and Kyle Sanborn is a lovably kooky Einstein. MJ Wisniewski, as the simple-minded yet occasionally brilliant Freddy, and Jean Ciampi as the sharp witted Germaine portray a couple in the comfortable stage of a long-term relationship. Though Picasso is an exciting conquest, it is believable when Ciampi’s monologue shows us that she truly loves Freddy because he appreciates her, while Picasso uses women up as quickly as he can sketch them.
All four leads successfully navigate a challenging script, and each of the ensemble actors brought renewed energy and pacing to the show. Sarah Gochenour as Sagot brings an incredible energy to the stage and Benton Mellish is ridiculously funny as Charles Dabernow Schmendiman. John G. Tanner is perfect as Gaston, the harmless dirty old man with a prostate condition. A lesser performance might show Gaston to be creepy, but Tanner admires women without leering at them - an important distinction. Another perfect casting is Zion Lange as the Visitor and I wish I could go into why he fits that part so well without spoilers.
The set, its rich green walls smattered with framed art, suggests that this bar in Paris is one we’ve all been to just around the corner. It is both unique and familiar. Building the stage on a very steep rake allowed perfect sightlines and levels while keeping the acting circles intimate. The transformation of a certain piece of art was fantastic! I had wondered how this would be executed, and I could not have been more pleasantly surprised at its execution. Then to top that, the play ends with an even more fantastic and surreal transformation of the set. Kudos to scenic designer, Evan Lewis and the scenic build and stage crews.
The costumes, designed by Mary Rita Johnson and her “Costume Goddesses,” are on point. Schmendemen’s purple suit compliments his colorful performance. Picasso is in his iconic striped shirt with a slightly eccentric scarf. My favorite choice might have been that Suzanne (Madeline Vallaza) enters dressed in all blue - a nod to Picasso’s blue period.
Picasso at the Lapin Agile at Midland Center for the Arts makes for a pleasant evening’s entertainment. You might wax nostalgic about the 20th century. (It can’t have been 20 years ago!) You might discuss the parallels between art and science. You will certainly laugh with some “wild and crazy guys” (and gals).
Production staff also includes Eric Rohman (dialect coach), Kimberly Hilliard (dramaturg), Amber Heal (stage manager), Bill Anderson (lighting designer), Diana Hanson (assistant stage manager) and Jeremy Hanson (assistant director / sound designer).
Performances: January 12 and 19 at 3:00 and January 17 and 18 at 7:30 at Midland Center for the Arts.
Tickets are available at the box office, by phone 989-631-5930, or by visiting the website www.mcfta.org
