*Picasso at the Lapin Agile*

*Picasso at the Lapin Agile*
Raphaël Toussaint · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Name	Picasso at the Lapin Agile
Writer	Steve Martin
Characters	Pablo Picasso, Albert Einstein, Freddy, Germaine, Gaston, Suzanne, Charles Dabernow Schmendiman, A Visitor
Setting	The Lapin Agile, Montmartre, Paris, 1904
Premiere	22 November 1993
Place	Steppenwolf Theatre, Chicago
Orig lang	English
Genre	Comedy, Philosophical fiction

*Picasso at the Lapin Agile* is a full-length play written by the American actor and comedian Steve Martin. Premiering in 1993, the work is a fictional comedic imagining of a meeting between the young Pablo Picasso and Albert Einstein in a Parisian bar in 1904, just before each man revolutionized his respective field. Through witty dialogue and anachronistic humor, the play explores themes of genius, creativity, and the transformative power of the 20th century, blending historical figures with original characters in a speculative avant-garde narrative.

Background and inspiration

Steve Martin, known for his work on Saturday Night Live and films like The Jerk, conceived the play as a comedic exploration of intellectual history. The setting is the real Montmartre cabaret The Lapin Agile, a famous haunt for artists and writers like Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec and Guillaume Apollinaire during the Belle Époque. Martin was inspired by the coincidental 1881 births of Pablo Picasso and Albert Einstein, and the play imagines a catalytic conversation between them on the cusp of their world-altering contributions to modern art and theoretical physics. The work reflects Martin's own deep interest in art history and philosophy, blending his signature absurdist humor with substantive discourse.

Plot summary

The action unfolds entirely within The Lapin Agile in 1904. Freddy, the bartender, and his girlfriend Germaine are joined by the elderly regular Gaston and a young admirer of Picasso's named Suzanne. Albert Einstein arrives first, awaiting a date, followed by Pablo Picasso, who is anticipating a rendezvous with Suzanne. Their initial rivalry over women and intellect evolves into a spirited debate on the nature of genius, beauty, and the future, moderated by the insightful Germaine. The arrival of the bombastic, fictional inventor Charles Dabernow Schmendiman and, later, a mysterious, anachronistic A Visitor from the future (strongly implied to be Elvis Presley) further disrupts the proceedings, culminating in a shared vision of the coming century's wonders and horrors.

Characters

* Pablo Picasso: A 23-year-old, boastful Spanish painter on the verge of pioneering Cubism. * Albert Einstein: A 25-year-old patent clerk, quietly confident, soon to publish his Annus Mirabilis papers on special relativity. * Freddy: The pragmatic, somewhat cynical owner and bartender of The Lapin Agile. * Germaine: Freddy's intelligent and perceptive girlfriend, who engages deeply with the ideas of Einstein and Picasso. * 'Gaston: An elderly, lecherous patron with a fondness for wine and tangential anecdotes. * Suzanne: A young, starstruck admirer of Picasso's work and allure. * Charles Dabernow Schmendiman: A fictional, pompous inventor who claims to be the true genius of the century. * A Visitor: A charismatic, time-traveling rock-and-roll singer representing the future's cultural shift.

Themes and analysis

The play is a sustained meditation on the nature of genius and the creative process, comparing the revolutionary discoveries in physics with breakthroughs in visual arts. It examines the interplay between art and science as parallel, truth-seeking endeavors, a theme highlighted in debates between Picasso and Einstein moderated by Germaine. The arrival of Charles Dabernow Schmendiman satirizes hollow self-promotion, while the anachronistic appearance of The Visitor underscores the unpredictable, culture-shattering impact of figures like Elvis Presley. Set against the backdrop of The Belle Époque, the work is ultimately optimistic about human potential while acknowledging the coming turmoil of the World Wars.

Production history

The play premiered at the Steppenwolf Theatre Company in Chicago on November 22, 1993, under the direction of Randall Arney. Its successful run led to an Off-Broadway production at the Promenade Theatre in New York City in 1995, featuring a cast that included Tim Hopper as Einstein and later, in subsequent productions, actors like John Rubenstein. It has since become a staple of regional, university, and community theaters worldwide, including notable productions in London's West End and at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. The play's publication by Samuel French, Inc. has facilitated its widespread performance.

Critical reception

Initial reviews praised Steve Martin's clever, high-concept dialogue and the play's intellectual charm, with critics from The New York Times and The Chicago Tribune highlighting its witty synthesis of comedy and philosophy. Some academic commentators noted its accessible introduction to complex ideas from Cubism to relativity. However, other reviews, such as one from The Guardian, found the conceit occasionally contrived and the humor overly reliant on anachronism. Despite mixed scholarly analysis, the play has enjoyed enduring popular success, solidifying Martin's reputation as a serious playwright beyond his work in Hollywood and on Saturday Night Live.

Category:1993 plays Category:American plays Category:Comedy plays