In 1940’s Paris, when Picasso was young and beginning to get recognition, he would visit the Lapine Agile (Agile Rabbit) and, in the fine tradition of watering holes all over the globe, proceed to resolve the problems of the world, with tobacco, liquor and vehement dialectic. You are insane, you charlatan! You’ve been tossing too much absinthe you swine! And so on. I confess I was leery of what I’d find when I attended Picasso at the Lapin Agile. In his heyday I positively adored Steve Martin’s patter, once waiting in line more than six hours to get tickets, but I wasn’t sure it would translate to the stage. To my delight, I discovered my doubts were unfounded. Martin’s Picasso at the Lapin Agile is a melange of erudition and goofiness, shtick and sophistication, philosophy and cynicism, star twinkle and bourbon.
Picasso at Lapine is a comedy to be sure, with eccentric characters and recurring punchlines, worldly insights and lovers’ pratfalls. Freddy and Germaine are romantically involved and the proprietors of this humble, yet vital gathering place for great minds and otherwise. Martin includes sketch comedy with truly marvelous fancies, debates on the nature of sentience, warm reflections on humanity, and facetious stuff that shouldn’t tickle (But damn it, it does!) Conceivably inspired by Terry Johnson’s Insignificance, but without the complications and dark undercurrent, Martin finds a cozy nest for his special brand of amusement, i.e. the world of Science, Imbibing and Art. Einstein and Picasso find great exhilaration in their arguments (piss and vinegar) that often result in awesome epiphany. Martin creates the expectation of spoofery and groanworthy gags, then throws other aspects into the mix, with poetic observations that will set your mind agog.
You might not wonder why “the agile rabbit” after seeing this poised, acrobatic, energetic and fluid cast at work. After enjoying theatre for many years I have learned that comedy requires balance more exacting than defusing an atomic bomb. the actors of Picasso at the Lapin Agile must navigate impulsive switches in tone, gender-bending, vaudeville, absurdity and cosmological musings, with no intermission and barely a pause. I am eternally grateful to have seen it on closing weekend.
Resolute Theatre Project presented Picasso at the Lapin Agile. Amy’s Studio of Performing Arts, 11888 Marsh Lane, Suite 600, Dallas, TX 75234