Burke-Hawthorne Hall is where I spend most of the day as a mass communications major. As I walked to my classroom, I couldn’t help but notice the new poster taped onto the wooden door. The University of Louisiana at Lafayette’s School of Dance and Theatre was back again, presenting “Picasso at The Lapin Agile.” This screenplay was written by Steve Martin, known for his work in comedy films and many accolades, including five Grammy’s.
Personally, I’m not familiar with Steve Martin, so walking into Burke-Hawthorne, I was eager to see what awaited on stage. Upon my arrival, I noticed the soft music playing over the speakers. The tune sounded like something out of an oldies playlist, and I loved the ambience it brought as families began grabbing their seats. One family stood out to me in particular, a big bouquet of flowers by their side as they sat in anticipation.
The mother, “Nana” and “Poppo” of Alana Cutno were in attendance to support her role as Germaine. Rana Kittles, Cutno’s mother, said this hadn’t been the family’s first performance they’ve attended. However, this would be their first time seeing “Picasso at the Lapin Agile,” as they expressed excitement and warm smiles. All four of us looked onto the stage, admiring the little details that fully brought the story together.
Nana told me the stage was “beautiful,” calling it “old-school elegant,” as we shook heads in agreement. I thanked all three for their time, returned back to my seat and continued to listen to the music. My first interpretation was the distinct tune; it made me feel like I was in a pub, with melodies that sound “French-like.” I made a conscious effort to not spoil myself by looking at the play’s description, so when I read over the director’s note, it surprised me.
The note, written by School of Dance and Theatre Interim Director Sara Birk, talked about the ideas Martin sought to conquer in this play. “When Martin speculates about a meeting between Einstein and Picasso as they are both on the cusp of defining words that will catapult them to fame in their respective fields and the public eye, he is giving us what seems like the ultimate opening line of a joke: ‘Einstein and Picasso walk into a bar…’”
Reading that after interpreting being in a bar setting, it amazed me how music alone was able to immerse me in that specific setting. But, it wasn’t just music, costume technicians Nico Aster, Cutno and Hime Dollis made the setting feel precise. The hard work of stage manager Finley Elliot and assistants Amirah Fields and Julia Wisdom definitely didn’t go unnoticed. The set was also designed and built by Jayda Bullard.
The division between art and science and the different perspectives from both Einstein and Picasso intrigued me. Picasso, played by Nick Mackowiak, gave the audience an explosive reveal. His declarative first line, “I’ve been thinking about sex all day,” definitely amused the audience as I heard laughs and spotted wide-eyed faces. Humor was certainly in the house, especially with the frequent bathroom trips by Gaston, played by Joseph Vildibill.
Both Picasso and Einstein are on the brink of publishing their own future ideas. For Einstein, it’s his book “Special Theory and Relativity.” On the other hand, Picasso will paint “Les Demoiselles d’Avignon.” Germaine and Einstein landed a few chuckles as she questioned Einstein on whether or not his book was funny. When Germaine asked if the book made him laugh, Einstein said, “No.”
“Well then it’s not funny,” Germaine asserted. One last element that really stood out to me were the stars twinkling in the background.
The cheers between characters made for a nice ending to the play, along with the picture taken by Sagot, played by Alyssa Eames.
Overall, I had a wonderful experience viewing “Picasso at the Lapin Agile” and I found myself wanting to know more about Martin and his work.
If you missed this one, the School of Dance and Theatre have plenty of other showcases and performances lined up throughout the semester.