For our final interview let's hear from actor / writer / director / all-around swell guy Mike Murdock, who plays the part of Albert Einstein, who meets another legendary figure in the play Picasso at the Lapin Agile, a comedy which runs this weekend at the Jeslyn Performing Arts Center (the old Camelot Theater). Here's what he had to say:
Q: Why did you decide to be part of Picasso at the Lapin Agile?
A: "Picasso" is a very funny, intelligent show that I've wanted to be a part of for a long time. I'm a long-time fan of Steve Martin, both as a performer and a writer, and when Jon Joy, the director, proposed the show, I had to jump at the chance to do it. Not often in community theatre do you get the chance to do not only a non-musical, but also a show that's as smart as this show. I've wanted to do the show for years, and I'm lucky enough to have finally gotten the chance.
Q: Just who is this Steve Martin guy and why does he think he's funny?
A: Does he think he's funny? Yeah, he probably does. Steve Martin, for those who, for some crazy reason, might not know, is a comedian / actor / writer / banjo player. Although he was never a cast member, he has appeared on Saturday Night Live quite a bit - he and Dan Aykroyd were the two "Wild and Crazy Guys"... he sang a song called "King Tut" and he has appeared in such films as The Jerk, Three Amigos, Planes, Trains and Automobiles, Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid, Roxanne and the film that eventually became a new Broadway musical, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels. Of course, many may also know him from his more family-friendly films such as the Cheaper by the Dozen series, the Father of the Bride series or as the latest incarnation of Inspector Clouseau in the remake of The Pink Panther. He's won numerous awards for comedy and writing, has an extensive art collection, which explains his fascination with Picasso. So, basically, the real question is "Is it really THAT Steve Martin that wrote it?", to which the answer is, "YES. It's THAT Steve Martin!"
Q: How intimidating is it to play such a famous historic figure as Einstein?
A: As this question suggests, I'm playing Albert Einstein at age 25 in the show. The play bends time a little and posits on what could have happened if Einstein and Picasso had met while they were around the same age and both on the verge of producing what were arguably their master works. It's tough playing someone that actually existed because you want to get the little things right. You want to have the accent. You want to have the eccentricity. You want to have the costume and mannerisms down. At the same time, you have to make it your own. We're not playing caricatures here. These are real people, for the most part, even though some of the comedy is absurd. Luckily, with real people, there's a lot of history and information about them, so it makes knowing who you are and what you're doing a bit easier. I just hope I do a passable job. Einstein is one of my heroes, and always has been. It's a great honor and challenge to bring him to life on stage.
Q: Why would you urge people to come out and see this show?
A: This is a quick night of GREAT theatre (the show only runs about an hour and twenty minutes with no intermission). It's a wonderful show, and we've collected some fantastic talent. Everyone in the show is great and we've all worked very hard to bring this to life. As I said, it's not often you get to see something around here that isn't a musical (not counting Marshall's productions, obviously), and this is a great precursor so what 2008 will bring for the Tri-State. It's a very smart show that will not only make you think, reflect, and talk about it long after, but it will also make you laugh out loud. What more could you ask for?
Q: What are the dates and times and place for the show?
A: The show runs this weekend: Friday, Nov. 30 at 8:00 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 1, at 8:00 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 2 at 8:00 p.m. at the Jeslyn Performing Arts Center (the old Camelot Theater downtown in Huntington). Tickets are $8.00.
And that Sunday evening performance even gives the good folks performing in Fifth Ave.'s A Christmas Carol a chance to see it, and I hope they do!
As a final note, Jon has put together a wonderful show, with a superb cast. This isn't a show you want to miss! See you there!!
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