It’s Not French and Pretentious!

Theater Ensemble performed Antigone last fall, establishing its ability to perform intense Greek tragedy. But not this year.

Steve Martin is a little-known playwright but a well-known comedic actor. AHS Theater Ensemble will be staging one of Martin’s most popular plays this fall: Picasso at the Lapin Agile. For all the flair of its French name, it really is a comedy. What happens when Picasso and Einstein walk into a bar? The year is 1904 and Einstein is about to publish the Special Theory of Relativity. His witty conversation with the bar’s regulars takes an abrupt turn when the second genius sweeps in. Picasso is on the verge of “bending” the 20^th century with his painting, Les Demoiselles d’Avignon, if only he could stop thinking about sex. Their differing personalities clash, with a suitably smashing galactic ending.

Picasso at the Lapin Agile runs November 13-15 and 20-22 at 7 p.m. on Thursdays and 8 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. The price is $5 for students and $10 for adults. All the money goes toward AHS Theater Ensemble and their dedication to making more incredible productions.

Andrea Hart directed Antigone beautifully and she has once again outdone herself in Picasso at the Lapin Agile. Hart has spent this season building up the ensemble where she left off last fall. Sarah Samonsky, as always, is Theater Ensemble’s faculty advisor, tech director and steadfast anchor.

Senior Hilary Armstrong plays Picasso and sophomore Dorothy Gray plays Einstein. Why the actresses playing the male geniuses?

“Obviously, they noted my giant brain. Type-casting, you know,” Dorothy retorted.

Other actresses include Karin Allen, Lyla Foley and Emma Berger in the roles of Germaine, Suzanne and the Countess, respectively. Juniors Thomas Poole and Erik Staley play Freddy the bartender and Gaston, a drunken old man. Picasso’s art dealer, Sagot, is played by Pia Mingkwan. Canyun Zhang plays Charles Dabernow Schmendiman. Daniel Goldman is an anonymous admirer. Other ensemble members are Arrion Azimi, Rachel Ozer-Bearson and Saba Keeramati.

To see who the Lapin Agile’s mysterious visitor is you’ll have to come to the performances yourself…

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