What if?

In Picasso at the Lapin Agile, we have a young Einstein kicking it with a young Picasso, shooting the shit and trading props at a small Parisian bar. The play’s premise is brilliant, and the two main characters aren’t too shabby in the brains department either.

The playwright behind the Sacramento Theatre Company’s newest production is none other than actor, comedian and author Steve Martin, who combines his love of art and comedy into an entertaining “what-if” fantasy. Martin imagines what would happen if two young upstarts at the beginning of their history-making careers stumbled upon one another at the famous Parisian artists’ hangout Lapin Agile in 1904.

It’s true that both Pablo Picasso (b. 1881) and Albert Einstein (b. 1879) were about the same age, and both spent time in Paris, but there’s no evidence they ever met. Until this production, that is, in which Martin places two of the most prominent influences of the 20th century together in a battle of the wits—the self-deprecating scientist meets the self-aggrandizing artist.

Though Martin is full of wit and wisdom, at times he doesn’t seem to trust himself or his audience with his original premise, so he uses everything in his comedic palette with mixed results. Picasso ends up part realism, part surrealism, part pop art and part way-over-the-top cartoon, but thankfully enough of the parts are fascinating and funny to forgive Martin’s excesses.

Keeping Martin’s wandering wit in check is STC director Peggy Shannon, who worked with Martin to produce the first regional production of Picasso at Georgia’s Alliance Theatre. Here, Shannon has assembled a talented cast of actors, and she keeps a tight rein on Martin’s wayward high jinks to produce a light, likable hour-and-a-half production.

Derek Mason recreates his endearing, bumbling Einstein from the Alliance Theatre production, while Geno Carvalho infuses his Picasso with just the right amount of pomposity and passion. The rest of the cast supports the two leads with great enthusiasm and moxie, the most notable being Anthony De Fonte as Freddy, David Silberman as Gaston, Shahnaz Shroff as Suzanne and Stephanie McVay as Germaine.

Because of STC’s Main Theatre renovation, the production is being presented at the impressive Natomas High School. It houses the handsome Parisian bar set by scenic designer Bill Forrester, complete with a huge wooden bar, cut-glass windows and period artwork.