|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
Picasso at the Lapin Agile
by STEVE MARTIN
Directed by Kathleen Mary
January 12 - 29, 2006
Let DFT’s Picasso at the Lapin Agile take you to Paris
Desert Foothills Theater invites you into the colorful and exciting world of Paris at the turn of the 20th Century with Steve Martin’s comedy Picasso at the Lapin Agile at the Cactus Shadows Fine Arts Center. This is the era of Impressionist painters, Puccini’s La Boheme, and wild antics at the Moulin Rouge.
Artists rub shoulders with aristocrats, businessmen, and scientists in the cabaret bars of Montmartre. Picasso, the Father of Cubism, was a real-life habitue of the Le Lapine Agile, a favorite watering hole of cabaret society. You may have seen Picasso’s self-portrait as Harlequin, standing at the Lapin Agile bar with cabaret performer Germaine Pichot beside him.
Steve Martin, the Father of Wild & Crazy (who you may be surprised to learn is a serious art and science buff) imagines what would happen if a young Picasso met up with a young Einstein at the Lapin Agile. The men are possessed with the controversial, inflammatory concepts that will shatter the way the world is perceived. Neither of them is famous yet; and they are ready and willing to let it all hang out as they energetically debate the Theory of Relativity, Cubism… and romance.
Be prepared for some sexy banter and adult themes, this is after all the milieu of the Can-Can, cafe society groupies, venal art dealers, fame-seekers, street girls and absinthe. And be prepared to laugh as the jokes, and surprises keep the pace lively.
Join friends at the bar
 |
|
|
|
David Libertella (Einstein), Steve Medeiros (Picasso), Autumn Steward (Countess), Shannon Whirry (Germaine),
Mark Hackmann (Freddy) and Kimberlee Fleming (Suzanne).
(Photo: Vickilyn Hussey/trendlab) |
|
|
“You’ll feel like you’ve had a chance to time travel’ says DFT Artistic Director Kevin Glenn, “and you’ll have a good laugh. We’ve recreated the quintessential Montmartre bar scene. And the talented cast brings the famous, would-be-famous, and never-gonna-be-famous characters to life.” The show’s director, Kathleen Mary adds, “We’ve turned back the clock to the start of the last century. Everything from French music and art to street scenes of early 1900 Paris will be there. How fun is that?!”
David Libertella plays a spirited Einstein with his wild, though not yet trademarked white hair. (Did you ever see the photograph of the mature Einstein with his hair standing up and his tongue sticking out? It gives us a hint about the inner man.) Steve Medeiros has the role of the art world’s irreverent Spanish Minotaur, Picasso.
The owner and bartender of the Lapin Agile, Freddy, is played by Mark Hackmann. The role of Freddy’s waitress and girlfriend, the beautiful and clever Germaine is performed by Shannon Whirry. Jack White has the part of Gaston, “an admirer of the feminine equation.” Kimberlee Fleming is the party girl Suzanne, who shows up at the bar looking for Picasso.
Sagot, Picasso’s art dealer, is played by Evin Kennedy. Kellen Hunt bounds in and out, and in again as the enthusiastic self-promoter Charles Dabernow Schmendiman. The irresistible Countess is portrayed by Autumn Stewart. And bar denizens played by Dana DiRado, Geoffrey Ramler and Barbara Harris round out the cast.
Stage Manager: Melodie Duncan
Assistant Stage Manager: Barbara Leard
Set Designer and Set Builder: Mark Harris
Costume Designer: Tracy Steadman
Assistant Costumer: Veronica Steadman
Lighting Designer: Ashley Elliott
Lighting Operators: Andrew Cupo & Chie Morita
Sound Design: Toby Payne
Sound Engineers: Bryce Koser & Sean Quaid
Hair, Wigs, and Makeup: Diane Welle
Running Crew Manager: Barbara Allen
Presented through special arrangement with SAMUEL FRENCH, INC.
Box Office Manager: Donna DiRado
Will Call: Dana DiRado
Publicist: Vickilyn Hussey
Company Photographer: Michael Crivelli
|
|
|
© 2006 Desert Foothills Theater |
|
|
