Paris, Picasso, and Einstein at Hillbarn Theatre
By Joan Gross

The year is 1904. While sipping your cognac at a little table in the famous Paris bar, the Lapin Agile, your attention is riveted to two young men. Albert Einstein and Pablo Picasso, in an animated discussion at the next table.

Be there at this meeting of the century by attending the Hillbarn Theatre production of “Picasso at the Lapin Agile,” from Jan. 21 to Feb 17.

The fiery Einstein meets the passionate Picasso in a hilarious battle of ideas about art, probability, lust and the future of the world. The underlying significance of this meeting is that one year later Albert Einstein published the Special Theory of Relativity, and three year later, Pablo Picasso painted “Les Desmoiselles D’Avignon.” Both are profound, influential and substantial works that hold prominent places in history.

Written by Steve Martin, this one act play is so described by Variety as “90 minutes of nutty fun!” When entering the mind of Martin, one is in for a very odd and entertaining ride. Martin describes the play as his personal musings on the question: What if Picasso and Einstein met in a bar when they were 20-somethings, right before they made their breakthrough achievements? Originally produced in Chicago in 1993, the play was seen on Broadway at the Promenade Theatre in 1995.

Actor Anthony Silk of Sunnyvale finds that his character, Albert Einstein, is much more exuberant than people think of him. “I think Einstein is a lot of fun. He’s brainy for sure, but he has such a sense of joie de vie about everything in life that he’s having a good time whether or not people can follow his thought processes,” Silk said.”

Silk likes everything Martin has written. “He has such an intellectually dry wit, something I aspire to, that I knew this would be a project that would appeal to me,” Silk said. He feels that laughing a lot with cast members and getting them to laugh made it really easy to find the humor and personality in Einstein.

Having started acting in elementary school, Silk has been performing during school years and in community theatres across the country. He was last seen as Dr. Serensky in “Anastasia.”

“Acting is both a thrill and a challenge for me, which I really enjoy. I love the entire discovery process – figuring out the essence of the character and how you translate that from page to voice, as well as the excitement of being in front of a live audience. It also has helped me in my current job as a high school math and algebra teacher. If you can get up and sing in front of a crowd of complete strangers, then you will have no fear of facing a group of teenagers,” Silk said.

Silk wants the audience to be eager yo listen to what Einstein has to say. “I want to take them at light speed to the edge of the universe,” he said.

Victor Carrion from San Francisco, portraying Picasso as a young man, sees his character as wanting to experience everything life has to offer in new and original ways. “I always knew about his temperament, but have gained new insights into his time in Paris around the turn of the century. I want to be true to his energy and vigor and transmit his passion for the new and beautiful,” Carrion said.

This is Carrion’s first appearance at Hillbarn. He is co-founder of Theatre in the Woods, which stages outdoor productions in Woodside.

Also making his debut at Hillbarn is Milan Lazich of Redwood City, who the role of Freddy, owner and bartender at the Lapin Agile. “Freddy is not necessarily the brightest guy in the world, but he tries to relate to everybody who visits,” Lazich said.

Several years ago, Lazich saw the play performed in San Francisco.
“However, it was only while getting ready to be part of it at Hillbarn that I gained some insight into some of the humor and political comment that Steve Martin had in mind, at least what I think he had in mind – remember, I’m just a bartender,” Lazich said.

He wants to project Freddy as a good bartender who seeks to bring energy to his establishment and, thought sometimes they can be trying, make his patrons feel welcome in his bar.

“Preparing for this role has necessitated some first hand research in appropriate environments,” Lazuch said.

Lazich would like to pursue a career in stand-up comedy. He started taking improvisational comedy classes six years ago. Since then, he has appeared with the Red Morton Herings, and improve group in community theatre in Redwood City.

Well known Hillbarn actress Heather Galli is seen as Suzanne, who comes to the bar, hoping to find Picasso there, “Suzanne stands for all the different women who come into the artist’s life that are attracted to Picasso,” Galli said. “She finds him clever, creative handsome, and in her eyes, a mythical, magical person.”

Galli takes the parts of three different characters during the production. “I am onstage in many scenes and must pay attention all the time to what is going on, even if I’m not involved in the dialogue or action,” she said. “It is difficult to be an active participant, even though I don’t have anything to say.”

Her recent performances at Hillbarn include Andre in “Gigi,” Edith Potter in “The Women,” the Queen in “Cinderella,” and Ermengarde in “Hello Dolly.”

Artistic director Toni Tomei has chosen Linda Picone to direct the comedy. Picone previously directed “Dancing at Lughnasa” and the musical “Working” for Hillbarn.

“I am so pleased to have been able to secure her to direct this production. Linda simply has the best comedic timing sense of anyone I know. She is a perfect fit for this piece.”

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