“Picasso at The Lapin” reviewed by Frank Meccia

Recommended *** I do enjoy when I go to a play I never seen before, and to be surprised that it was first performed here in Chicago and written by someone I never expected to write a comedy without music. The play is Picasso at the Lapin. Performed by Steppenwolf Theatre in 1993, and written by the singer, actor and comedian Steve Martin. The play first lets the audience think, All the planets and the sun are in alignment, Time and space are in a flux, and you are in Paris, 1904, and you are at the little artistic bar Lapin Agile.

The reason the play takes place in 1904 is because both these individuals were still unknown at the time. Einstein did not publish his theory of relativity till 1905, and Picasso did not paint his famous Les Demoiselles d” Avignon till 1907. The three antagonists in the play represent what the 20th century will produce. Picasso represent art, Einstein represents Science, and Schmendiman and inventor, believes he is a genius but really knows little, represent commercialization. The final surprise patron to join this crew is a charismatic dark-haired singer, time warped in from the future. All this with a cast of 9 in a small, I mean small stage and theatre. The Riverfront Playhouse has been a community theatre for Aurora since 1973, back then it was so small, that the actors had to do their costume changes out in the alley behind the theatre before moving into their new location.
Directed by Jake Harrison Murphy, he found away to move this cast in such a direction that he brings great meaning to this dark comedy. Freddy, the bar owner played by Raju Ben plays the perfect bartender who knows his customers and keeps an excellent eye out on every drink and who is paying, while still having time to romance his girlfriend and waitress Germaine, played by Heidi Schultz. Germaine keeps the men coming to the bar, with her good looks and she also has slept with Picasso. Albert Einstein is played by Matt Johnson, he plays the role of a 25 y/o scientist with perfect mannerisms, his hair makes the character. And of course, you have the Spanish womanizer and lover Pablo Picasso played by Vinny Prisco, who did an excellent job oozing the sex appeal towards all the woman who came in. That leads us to Nicole Lapas who has the job of playing Suzanne a 19 y/o infatuated with Picasso, the Countess who Einstein has eyes for and the Frenchwoman in love with Schmendiman. To round out this cast is Gaston, played by Thomas Rieser the loveable old Frenchman with prostate problems, who is hesitant to believe anything unless it revolves around sex and woman, a true Frenchman. The rest of the cast help create a play that is fast and loose with facts, fame, and on achievements and prospects for the future. Funny how they knew about airplanes, TV, movies, and the Yo-Yo.

I do recommend this play if you need to get out of Chicago or Cook County for a few hours. Downtown Aurora has some really great new bars and restaurants to enjoy. While there, 50 yards from the theatre is the Tavern on Broadway, 24 N. Broadway. This place made the whole trip worthwhile. A small craft tavern, with some extraordinary drinks. When there, try their Smoked Manhattan, or the Brown Derby, all hand-crafted drinks at prices you will not find in Chicago. The menu is short, but the food is excellent. The Bacon Jam burger is 8oz of pure enjoyment, The flatbreads are the best I have had anywhere in Chicago. Very friendly Tavern, clean and comfortable.

The Riverfront Playhouse is located at 13 S. Water Street. www. Riverfrontplayhouse.com for tickets or call (630) 897-9496. Ticket prices are $17.00 adults and $15.00 for seniors. The play is only on Friday and Saturday’s till Feb 26th.