Art, science, ego and sex in an absurd comedy of historical fiction

In Colorado Springs, Millibo Art Theatre serves up a well-wrought production of ‘Picasso at the Lapin Agile’

It is 1904: Big ideas are brewing as 24-year-old geniuses Pablo Picasso and Albert Einstein fictitiously meet for the first time in a quaint Parisian bar.

That’s the setup for Picasso at the Lapin Agile playing through Feb. 26 at the Millibo Art Theatre in Colorado Springs. The production is a well-done blend of the whimsical and the thoughtful for an evening of intelligent theatre.

Written in 1993 by Steve Martin — yes, that Steve Martin — the off-Broadway comedy is equal parts silliness and intellectual exploration as the quirky scientist and playboy painter verbally spar amid a swirling cast of supporting characters.

There is no classic conflict and resolution in this story; the imaginary meeting of great minds is the plotline. The pub’s regulars flirt and fumble, spar and spew as they weigh in on the radical ideas of the new century against the backdrop of Einstein’s sarcasm and Picasso’s machismo. Snappy dialogue and well-executed staging enable big displays of flamboyance on a small stage.

Colton Pratt (Einstein) and Michael Lee (Picasso) shine bright in their roles as their  dual evolves. In a nod to the audience, buttoned-up Einstein fluffs his hair to meet our modern stylings of him. As Picasso, Lee struts through his lines, moving with cocky pageantry as he touts his conquests with the ladies. Each believes his ideas best those of the other.

The full cast

Martin writes his characters with purpose and Millibo’s production nails each one.  The amusing and amicable Gaston (Michael Miller) sways and stumbles as an old Frenchman plagued by prostate problems with ears that perk up at the mention of sex or drinking. The underachiever Schmendiman (Sean Verdu) is the young inventor who dreams big but pales in the shadow of Einstein and Picasso but ultimately delivers on Martin’s “wild and crazy guy” persona.

Seductive tart Suzanne (Anna Faye Hunter) excels as a turn-of-the-century diva. She slithers into the Lapin Agile in search of another romp with Picasso who insultingly does not even remember their liaison. Later, she convincingly portrays the countess who has Einstein’s eye.

Her antics are not lost on Germaine (Miriam Roth), the pub’s waitress, who has also slept with Picasso. A Millibo regular, MAT patrons will miss Roth’s outstanding pipes in this production, but she still belts out some spoken zingers with great gusto.

Sagot (Rachel Fey) is a standout as Picasso’s art dealer. Her physicality on stage is enthralling. Overacting in this play seems like a page straight from Martin’s many iconic screen characters.

Director Jim Jackson, Millibo’s co-founder and a regular MAT performer, presents the play with a feisty piano score. The play’s progression works in precise choreography with pianist Mark Arnest at the ivories. Sometimes it is but a single note, then a series of well-timed dramatic chords intermingled with a few soft whimsical measures behind the voices. Arnest never misses a beat, his musical musings holding the audience captive throughout.

Freddy (Julian Bucknall) is the owner and bartender at the Lapin Agile. Seemingly simple-minded, he cleverly sees everything but shares little. His movement are robotic at times.

Just when the audience is steeped and sipping from the early 20^th century, enter a time traveler (Isaiah Culling), fueling the debate of talent vs. genius. The unnamed but familiar musical sensation grounds the patrons in the inevitable and ever-present influence of change. Finally, the duo agree that art and science do intersect as Einstein is poised to transform physics with his theory of relativity and Picasso will upturn the art world with his master painting, Les Demoiselles d’Avignon.

Picasso works on its single set in this intimate theatre because of well-cast talent, insightful direction and pleasing musical stylings. Get ready as two larger-than-life 20^th century icons turn on the lights and the stage is illuminated start to finish.