By George Basler
Steve Martin’s Picasso at the Lapin Agile combines a trunk-load of disparate elements: realism and fantasy; seriousness and absurdity; heavy themes and bladder jokes. See how that works when the play opens Aug. 23 for a three-weekend run at the Chenango River Theatre in Greene.
“It’s a brilliant show. It has some deep moments, but they’re contradicted by moments of pure silliness,” said Zach Curtis, CRT’s producing artistic director, who is directing the production.
Martin wrote the play, which opened in 1993 at Steppenwolf Theatre Company in Chicago, at a time when he was best known for zany comedy routines and movies. Remember The Jerk and the arrow-through-his-head routine?
With Picasso at the Lapin Agile, the comedian was dipping into a new phase in his career, writing more conceptual and cerebral humor while also retaining elements of his broadly comedic style.
The play centers on the imaginary 1904 meeting of painter Pablo Picasso and Albert Einstein in the Parisian bar Lapin Agile (which is still open in Paris). During the meeting, Picasso, Einstein and seven other characters engage in discussions about science, art, love and the nature of genius.
This sounds like pretty heady stuff, but there are also zany moments and running gags throughout the play that Curtis describes as “a goofy, funny show.”
The play also contains a moment of surreal fantasy when a mysterious stranger, who is never identified but is clearly Elvis Presley, shows up out of nowhere.
Picasso at the Lapin Agile plays a lot like a stand-up comedy routine, noted Curtis who is directing the play for the fifth time.
The CRT cast features actors who have appeared in previous productions throughout the region. Einstein is being played by Syracuse-based actor Derek Emerson Powell, whose credits include roles at Syracuse Stage, Cortland Repertory Theatre and the Hanger Theatre in Ithaca. He appeared in CRT’s production of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde in 2022.
Ryan Canavan is playing Picasso. His credits include performances at KNOW Theatre in Binghamton, the Cider Mill Stage in Endicott and Ti-Ahwaga Community Playhouse in Owego.
Other cast members are Drew Kahl, James Wetzel, Andrea Gregori, Brian Linden, Gillian Canavan, Parker Howland and Dylan Perez.
The bottom line of Picasso at Lapin Agile is that it’s an enjoyable romp that is has been a box office hit all over the country. “It’s pretty easy to sell a play when you say Steve Martin and Albert Einstein,” Curtis said.
IF YOU GO: The Chenango River Theatre will present Picasso at the Lapin Agile Aug. 23-Sept. 8 at its playhouse, 991 NY Route 12, Greene. Performances are at 7:30 p.m. Thursday-Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are $30 for all performances. The recommended way to buy tickets is at ChenangoRiverTheatre.org. Tickets also can be purchased by calling the 24-hour box office line: 607-656-8499.
Free tickets for high school and college students are available at all evening performances. Email tickets@chenangorivertheatre for reservations, which are required for the free ticket program.
