Picasso at the Lapin Agile - A Review

Sometimes you go to see a community theatre show and it’s just the same old thing - and sometimes you see something that’s just a pure delight. Picasso at the Lapin Agile definitely falls into the latter category.

The play, written by Steve Martin (yes, THAT Steve Martin), is set in 1904 and tells about an imaginary meeting between three of the men who changed the 20th century - Albert Einstein, Pablo Picasso and another hilarious (and unexpected) addition who I won’t spoil for you.

The discussion that follows and weaves around the meeting of the two in the Lapin Agile (a bar in Paris) is clever, intelligent and very, very funny.

The cast features some of the best comic talent in the area, including:
- Dwight Slappe as the bartender Freddy, who gets some of the funniest side comments;
- Melissa Langham as the wise Germaine, who works in the bar but has he own agenda;
- Jonathan Joy who does double-duty as both director and as Gaston, an older gentleman with lots of knowledge about women and very little experience;
- Mike Murdock as Einstein, with a terrific accent and, as always, perfect comic timing;
- Karah Markins as Suzanne, a fan of Picasso’s who’s just this side of being a stalker;
- Mark Cohn as Sagot, an art dealer who’s always looking for an angle;
- Travis McElroy as Picasso, an egotistical and incredibly talented painter (not to mention being a terrific actor);
- Michael Sullivan as Schmendiman, who virtually steals every scene he’s in;
- Cabrina Person as The Countess, Einstein’s soul mate and significant other;
- Jen McComas as A Female Admirer, and while she doesn’t get much time on the stage, she does manage to get the show’s biggest laugh (and that’s saying something);
- and Josh Jannotta as A Visitor, who gives a magnetic performance, though to discover his character you’ll have to see the show for yourself.

This small cast gets the maximum laughs out of a clever script that should appeal to any fan of Mr. Martin’s. The best description I could manage was that it’s like seeing a funny, Americanized version of Monty Python. (And I mean that as high praise, trust me.)

My only complaint about last night’s show had nothing to do with the performers - the heat was on the fritz at the Jeslyn Performing Arts Center, making this the first show I’ve ever seen in a refrigerator. But even with the cool temps (and I’m sure they’ll have the heater running normally tonight), “Picasso” is still a terrific play and well worth seeing - no matter the temperature, the script is crisp and fresh, the acting is sharp and top-notch, and the laughs are many.

Highly recommended!