Steve Martin's Picasso at the Lapin Agile

Before it overpowers us with a tour of Andrew Lloyd-Webber's Sunset Boulevard, the Fabulous Fox here in St. Louis has decided to charm us with a sharp and stylish production of Steve Martin's verbal vaudeville Picasso at the Lapin Agile. It's probably one of the funniest things the multi-talented comic/actor/playwright has ever written, and certainly one of the most intelligent.

The production comes to us straight from the Steppenwolf Theater Company of Chicago (which gave the play its world premiere in 1993) and returns there when its local run concludes this Sunday (1/26/97). The fact that we're seeing it at all is due to a partnership between the Fox and Chicago producer Michael Leavitt, and as far as I'm concerned that puts local theatergoers in their debt. My only regret is that we don't have a theater of the appropriate size for this little gem of a play. It's modest virtues seem rather dwarfed by the immensity of the 4500-seat Fox Theater.

The story of Picasso at the Lapin Agile is almost indescribable and ultimately less important than the funny and profound bits that hang on it. Basically, it's about a meeting between Picasso and Einstein at the Lapin Agile cafe in Paris in 1904, and the intellectual fireworks that result. There's also some seduction, a drawing contest, the legendary Charles Schmendiman (of whom no one has ever heard), and an important message from Picasso's muse, delivered by a time-traveling Elvis. In a way, its rather like the old Marx Brothers shows, in which the plot was only a pretext for a collection of comic turns. In this case, though, the turns are also touching, insightful, and sometimes just surrealistic.

The Steppenwolf cast is a finely-tuned ensemble in which no one act stands out for the simple reason that they're all brilliant. Jim Ortlieb and Robert Kahn have some of the most impressive moments as Einstein and Picasso, respectively, but there's also fine work from Ian Barford as Freddy, the bartender with flashes of insight; Jim Mohr as the garrulous Gaston; and Kirsten Sahs as Germaine, Freddy's patient lover. Kristina Harrison proves to be an effective quick-change artist, both in dress and manner, in three very distinct roles, and Del Close pontificates amusingly as the art dealer Sagot. And, of course, there's Chad Alan Suitts, giving us an Elvis interpretation rather than an impersonation.

Picasso at the Lapin Agile plays the Fox Theatre in St. Louis through Sunday, January 26th, and then returns ot Chicago. The show isn't perfect - there are moments here and there when Martin waxes philosophical and would be better off letting philosophical wax him for a bit instead - but if you appreciate Tom Stoppard, Groucho Marx (from whom I stole that last joke), the Firesign Theater, and the early plays of Woody Allen, you won't want to miss this clever, funny, and occasionally profound mix of cheap laughs and insightful commentary. Call Metrotix at 314-534-1111 for ticket information.