TOM TITUS -- Theater Review

The richly fertile and decidedly off-center mind of comedian Steve

Martin explodes in a hailstorm of pointed verbosity at Orange Coast

College in “Picasso at the Lapin Agile.”

No, there are no King Tuts or people with arrows through their heads,

but a certain “king” does put in a surprise appearance in Martin’s

imaginative riff on a fictional encounter between two giants of

contrasting creative worlds -- who never met in real life -- at a

sidewalk cafe in 1904 Paris.

Pablo Picasso, of course, is one of the legendary figures, and the

other is Albert Einstein -- both a few years away from setting their

footprints in the cement of history. Martin’s comedic arrows, aimed

alternately at the head and the heart, score bull’s-eyes on each count.

Director John Ferzacca has enlisted the services of two exceptional

actors -- guest artists if you will -- to give Martin’s intellectual

hilarity free rein. In an intermission-less 90 minutes, these two

budding geniuses square off, pencils drawn, in what is less a battle of

wits than of concepts backed by supreme egos contrastingly expressed.

Craig Fleming conveys the artist’s fervent and fickle passion as

Picasso, holding assorted admirers in thrall as he dominates his moments

on stage. His magnetic hold over women is skillfully demonstrated as he

woos a young, ardent admirer and an older, less-impressionable waitress.

The quieter, yet equally effective Einstein is done splendidly by

Scott Ratner, brandishing his celestial intellect as Picasso would a

paintbrush. In this duel between art and science, Ratner forces a draw,

with more subtle but telling strokes, and his chuckling reaction scenes

are a particular treat.

Jessica Hutchinson enacts the aforementioned waitress with a delicate

charm matched by a sharp tongue. Her significant other, the Lapin Agile’s

owner and bartender, is nicely done by Russell Taylor, who maintains a

layman’s comfortable perspective.

Picasso’s ardent young admirer/lover is a neatly executed performance

by Paulina Brown, who employs her gamin allure effectively. Peter Niles

reaps some significant guffaws as an elderly bar patron with a weak

bladder and a strong memory of amorous conquests past.

Also populating the Lapin Agile are an effusive art dealer (Martin

Winslow), an enthusiastic charlatan (Kurt Jarraro), a countess enamored

of Einstein (Krystal Allan) and a visitor from the future (Michael R.

Cavinder), who could tell both historical titans a thing or two about the

price of fame.

Martin breaks a number of theatrical conventions with “Picasso,” not

the least of which is the fourth wall, scaled to settle an argument over

program listing. It’s the degree of humor one might expect from a comic

actor who gained his notoriety from his inveterate zaniness and sheer

unpredictability.

The OCC show is played out on a richly appointed setting created by

David Scaglione, which blossoms into the center of an imagined universe

late in the play, encompassing the audience. Erik Lawrence’s period

costuming adds a richly authentic touch to the early 20th century

atmosphere.

Though familiarity with Picasso’s blue period or Einstein’s theory of

relativity would be helpful, neither is absolutely essential to the

enjoyment of “Picasso at the Lapin Agile.”

At bottom, this is a roller coaster ride through the eclectic mind of

Steve Martin, and it’s a wonderful journey.

FYI

WHAT: “Picasso at the Lapin Agile”

WHERE: Orange Coast College Drama Lab Theater

WHEN: Closing performances at 8 p.m. today and 2 p.m. Sunday

HOW MUCH: $9

PHONE: (714) 432-5880