Picasso at the Lapin Agile is a one-act comedy that was written by Steve Martin, his first full-length play.
The show focuses on the characters of Albert Einstein and Pablo Picasso who are in their early twenties and have a chance encounter in a bar called the “Lapin Agile” (the “Nimble Rabbit”) in the Parisian artist quarter of Montmartre.
Both men are on the verge of a major breakthrough — Einstein is about to publish his Special Theory of Relativity, Picasso is painting his Les Demoiselles D’Avignon, his first proto-cubist work. Within this historical context, Einstein and Picasso debate the value of genius and talent while they each help usher in the science and culture of the early 20th century.
The play is far from heady, though, and has plenty of comedic moments. Einstein and Picasso interact with several characters, including an amicable drunk Frenchman, the bar maid, an enterprising inventor, an unscrupulous art dealer, a countess and an avantgarde artist groupie. There is even a time-traveling Elvis character.
The ConVal production of Picasso at the Lapin Agile is directed by Haley Spitzfaden and co-produced by Liz Halper and Elizabeth Moore. Actors are (in order of appearance): Quinn Montgomery, Michael Zrzavy, Ingrid Aho, Patrick Sherlock, Emma Canty-Carrel, Thayer Taft, Ryan Hoiriis, Luke Wilson, Anna McGuiness, Amber Ruston, and Jason Frank.
Costume design provided by Madeline Ciocci and Becket Gourlay; set design by Bruce Dodge; lighting design by Michael Zrzavy and Mickey Maguire. Riley Bemont is stage manager. The play poster was designed by Kaylin Krslovic.
