Martin’s comic antics paint ‘Picasso at the Lapin Agile’
Bartender, patrons add extra fuel to comedic production at
Playhouse
By Jennifer Richmond
Daily Bruin Staff
Steve Martin. That "wild and crazy guy" who made Martin a
household name through his bizarre sketches on Saturday Night Live
(SNL). The same man who expanded his repertoire by adding his wacky
attitude to such characters as Cowboy Gil of Parenthood and Harris
K. Telemacher, the wacky TV weatherman of L.A. Story, now brings
his strange antics to the stage.
The play: "Picasso at the Lapine Agile." And the character he’ll
be playing: the playwright?
Yes, ladies and gentlemen, this time Martin makes his theater
debut offstage. But don’t worry, Martin’s unique sense of humor is
captured in the production 100 percent.
"Picasso" revolves around an ongoing discussion between Pablo
Picasso (Tim Hopper) and Albert Einstein (Rick Snyder), in a
Parisian bar known as the Lapine Agile. Their conversations range
from each man’s genius to life and love. Even before Picasso
enters, the painter is the subject of several other characters’
discussions.
Although Picasso and Einstein are at the center of the
production, it’s two smaller characters that make the production
move. Each pivotal in their own right, both characters are, without
question, the personification of Martin.
Freddy (Tracy Letts) is the Lapine’s bartender who handles
Martin’s vocab spectacular and Charles Dabernow Schmendiman (Troy
West) is the wannabe genius to handle Martin’s typical exaggerated
antics.
Early on in the production, Freddy embodies the comedian by
using his gift for over-complicating. He picks Einstein’s brain for
help with the bar’s finances. Because Einstein’s so sure of his
subject, Freddy goes into a five minute math question typical of an
elementary school text book: 20 possibilities and it goes on
forever.
The audience, already in hysterics before Freddy finishes the
monologue, is rolling in the aisles when Einstein answers with a
quick, short formula. Freddy’s inflections and actions that
accompany his monologue are so Martin, they might as well be
spewing from the comedian’s mouth.
But if that weren’t enough, Martin goes one step further by
bringing in the annoying Schmendiman. The person who’s supposedly
going to be the third great man of the 20th century has the classic
loud, exaggerated actions that have made the playwright and his
films so popular. Dressed in a checkered suit, he waves his hands
in the air like Martin’s "wild and crazy" Czech brother from SNL
every time he comes up with a brilliant idea.
Much of the dialogue screams of Martin. After Einstein enters,
he reveals his identity and Freddy has a conniption. Although it
sounds like he can’t believe this man is really Einstein, Freddy’s
actually upset because Einstein made his entrance too early. Freddy
proves his point by grabbing a program from an audience member and
showing the scientist his huge mistake.The breakdown of the fourth
wall reminds most of Martin’s voice over from L.A. Story.
It’s actions like these that prove Martin can be on stage
without being present. Both Letts and West handle Martin’s
personality without any difficulty. Because the two actors don’t
botch the timing or the lines, Martin’s classic sarcasm and
ludicrous antics remain intact, proving the actors talent.
This complete embodiment of Martin makes "Picasso" the pleaser
that it is. With a combination of great talent and wacky antics,
Martin fans won’t be disappointed.
STAGE: "Picasso at the Lapine Agile." Written by Steve Martin.
Directed by Randall Arney. Starring Tracy Letts, Rick Snyder, Tim
Hopper and Rondi Reed. Running through Dec. 4 at the Westwood
Playhouse. Performs Tuesday through Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 5
p.m. and 9 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. TIX: $10-30. For
more info. call: (310) 208-5454.