Published in The News Tribune, March 20, 2015
 |
| From left: Rodman Bolek, Jacob Tice and Bryce Smith. Photo courtesy DK Photography |
Tacoma Little Theatre’s current
show, Picasso at the Lapin Agile, is a quirky little comedy written by Steve
Martin and directed by Rick Hornor that cleverly skews history and makes fun of
theatrical traditions by breaking the fourth wall in unexpected ways. The
writing is outstanding, and it is full of surprises, most of which I can’t
mention without spoiling it. I can’t even tell you who some of the characters
are without spoiling it — but I will give one hint. Chad Russell comes on stage
like a rock star from a most unexpected place (literally and figuratively). He
is billed in the program as “A visitor (from another era).” And like “Star
Trek” characters messing with the space-time continuum, he changes history.
 |
| From left: odman Bolek, Jacob Tice and Ana Bury. Photo courtesy DK Photography |
The Lapin Agile is a actual bar
that was famous as a hangout for artists and other creative types at the turn
of the 20th century. Pablo Picasso (Bryce Smith) and Albert Einstein
(Rodman Bolek) meet at the Lapin Agile and exchange witty barbs. It is 1904,
two years before then 23-year-old Picasso painted “Les Demoiselles d’Avignon”
and a year before Einstein published his “Special Theory of Relativity.”
In addition to these two geniuses, the bar is populated by
a number of eccentric characters including Gaston (played with great nuanced
style by John Saunders), an old man who has to go to the bathroom every few minutes;
Suzanne (Ana Bury), Picasso’s latest conquest (he slept with her the night
before but now barely remembers her); and an inventor named Charles Dabernow
Schmendiman (Dan Lysne), an outlandish character who brings to mind any number
of the wild and crazy characters author Steve Martin created on the original
“Saturday Night Live.” Martin hilariously got away with such over-the-top
acting. Lysne does so as well, but barely.
Bolek is outstanding as Einstein, parodying rather than
copying the look and gestures of the famously eccentric genius. Smith’s takeoff
on Picasso does not work as well. I don’t know if it was Smith or the director
who decided to portray Picasso in such an oddly lethargic manner, but Picasso
was generally known to be energetic and explosive, not the lackadaisical
character portrayed here.
Jacob Tice is outstanding as the owner and bartender,
Freddy. He and his waitress/girlfriend, Germaine (Colleen Bjurstrom), are likeable
and down-to-earth. Tara Jensen is comic gold in a couple of small roles as the
Countess and an unnamed fan of Picasso.
The set designed by Blake York and lighting by Pavlina
Morris with set dressing and props by Jeffery Weaver is simply marvelous. The
dark brown colors of old wood, the paintings on the walls and the many
knick-knacks on the shelves behind the bar, and most beautifully the
elaborately carved bar with brass foot rails create a warm and comfortable
atmosphere. I’ve never seen the real Lapin Agile, but I felt that this set
perfectly captured the feel of a bar these characters would hang out in. The
only thing missing might have been chess players at a corner table and
Hemmingway and Fitzgerald arguing literature.
Picasso at the Lapin Agile is
an adult comedy recommended for ages 13 and older.
WHAT: Picasso
at the Lapin Agile
WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2:00 p.m. Sunday,
through March 30
WHERE: Tacoma Little Theatre, 210
N “I” St., Tacoma
TICKETS: $22-$15
INFORMATION: 253-272-2281, www.tacomalittletheatre.com.
No comments:
Post a Comment