Picasso and Einstein

2005-2006 Season

Picasso and Einstein brawl in local bar!
by Vickilyn Hussey

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Before the curtain rises, Barbara Harris (street singer) helps establish the flavor of early 20th century Paris.
(Photo credit: Michael Crivelli)

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(left to right) Brawling brains: Kimberlee Fleming (Suzanne), Evin Kennedy (Sagot), Mark Hackmann (Freddy) and Shannon Whirry (Germaine) with Steve Medeiros (Picasso) and David Libertella (Einstein)
(Photo credit: Michael Crivelli)

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(left to right) Fight Night: Jack White (Gaston), Mark Hackmann (Freddy), Steve Medeiros (Picasso), Shannon Whirry (Germaine) and David Libertella (Einstein)
(Photo credit: Micheal Crivelli)

Fueled by a ranging thirst for life, art, sex and a drink, 23 year old Pablo Picasso roared into a local bar last weekend and provoked a brain brawl with Albert Einstein, age 25, who was there waiting for a date. The most brilliant minds of the 20th Century went at it, but patrons joined in and the crowd went wild.

The first weekend of Desert Foothill’s Theater’s Picasso at the Lapin Agile, an outrageous comedy by Steve Martin, proved this show is a crowd pleaser. Friday’s Opening Night audience halted the action on stage several times with thunderous applause for performances by David Libertella (Einstein), Steve Medeiros (Picasso), Evin Kennedy (art dealer Sagot) and Kellen Hunt (Steve Martin’s alter ego, Schmediman).

Mark Hackmann (bartender Freddy) is a strong mainstay for the firecracker cast. And Jack White, as Lapin Agile regular and “newly old man” (Gaston), proves to be the go-to guy for a guaranteed laugh.

Holding their own is crowd-appeal, Lapin Agile ladies Shannon Whirry (Germaine) and Kimberlee Fleming (Suzanne) go toe-to-toe with the boys when the philosophical chips are on the table. Autumn Stewart (Countess) is perfect for the time period. And Dana DiRado makes an adorable 1904 groupie.

Author Steve Martin, who recently wrote and starred in the movie “Shopgirl” once commented that “writing this play changed my personal life.” There is so much meaning woven in the laughs, quotable lines and physical comedy that, by the end of the show, his statement isn’t surprising.

Desert Foothills Theater’s Picasso at the Lapin Agile by Steve Martin continues through January 29 at the Cactus Shadows Fine Arts Center. Curtain is at 7:30 pm on Fridays and Saturdays; 2:00 pm on Sundays.