The cast of “Picasso at the Lapin Agile.” Photo by Shealyn Jae Photography.
What happens when two geniuses, one of art and one of science, end up at the same bar in Paris in 1904? Written by Steve Martin, “Picasso at the Lapin Agile” fictionalizes the meeting between Albert Einstein and Pablo Picasso in this comedy. Vagabond Players production, directed by Stephen Deininger, takes hold of Martin’s absurd, yet clever, story about what it means to lead by heart and lead by brains.
…the cast and crew create a humorous and bright story…stimulating and sometimes ridiculous—exactly how it’s supposed to be.
“Picasso at the Lapin Agile” premiered in Chicago in 1993 and later grew in fame off-Broadway. The two geniuses move about the stage as they contemplate their next greatest work—Einstein’s theory of relativity and Picasso’s “Les Demoiselles D’Avignon.” What ensues onstage, as these two interact with the bar owners, workers, and fellow patrons, is a silly, yet intriguing, debate of art and science. Martin’s writing contains simple humor but his storytelling is incredibly entertaining and human. Deininger emulates these themes accurately as the cast and crew create a humorous and bright story for the audience.
As Albert Einstein, Miles Weeks is bouncy, energetic, and sweet. Weeks encapsulates the young physicist with an encouraging aura that lets the audience know you’re dealing with one of the smartest people in the world. Adrian Bagarić’s Pablo Picasso depicts two sides of the artist—the soft and gentle lover and the vibrant and passionate creative. As this duality of man clashes and collides, the story on stage is stimulating and sometimes ridiculous—exactly how it’s supposed to be.
Anthony Rufo as Freddy, the bar owner, and Laura Weeldreyer, as a waitress, Germaine, are the clever boyfriend-girlfriend duo. Rufo frequently breaks the fourth wall with genuine curiosity and lovely remarks while Weeldreyer is confident but not overpowering. Other bar patrons include Audrey Brooks as Suzanne, a young woman who had an intimate encounter with Picasso. When Picasso doesn’t remember her, she is broken-hearted but keeps her composure. Peter Wilkes plays Gaston, an old man whose mind is consistently driven by sex and is always ready to provide another witty input or joke.
Charles Dabernow Schmendiman, played by Lucius Robinson, is an undisciplined inventor who interrupts the already ensuing chaos onstage. Later, when the company is visited by a certain blue-suede-shoes wearing, time-traveling musician, the audience is left stunned. A final picturesque moment of analyzing the future in the stars above concludes the piece on a heart-warming note.
Set Designer Bruce Kapplin adorns the bar with lovely artwork and many seating arrangements which gives the characters a variety of spaces in which to play. Costumer April Forrer simplifies the aesthetic of Paris in 1904 from a bow tie and jacket for Einstein to a paint-splattered smock for Picasso.
So, who triumphs in the end? The heart or the head? You’ll have to find out at Vagabond Players’ production of “Picasso at the Lapin Agile.”
Running Time: One hour and 30 minutes with no intermission.
“Picasso at the Lapin Agile” runs through June 22, 2025 at Vagabond Players, 806 S. Broadway, Baltimore, MD 21231. For more information and to purchase tickets, please go online.
