Expat playhouse White Box Theatre will provide the stage for Steve Martin’s irreverent comedy “Picasso at the Lapin Agile” starting Friday.
Created by Hollywood actor and comedian Steve Martin, the 1993 play looks at a fictional meeting between a young Albert Einstein and a young Pablo Picasso at a Parisian bar in 1904.
As they argue about the differences between science and art, the others in the bar chime in with their thoughts on how art and science will develop ― with varying levels of accuracy. But their discussion gets a surprise disturbance by a time-travelling Elvis as he walks out of the bar’s restroom.
“He’s traveled back to inspire these two guys, show them a little bit about ― particularly Picasso ― where their future is going to lead them,” said Mitchinson, who is directing the play.
Mitchinson said they had tried to keep the Elvis character true to the real-life Elvis, rather than the icon.
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Robbie Quinn (left) as Einstein and Daniel Kennedy as Picasso in White Box Theater’s production of “Picasso at the Lapin Agile.” (White Box Theater) |
“He had a fantastic singing voice but if you see him in interviews he’s very softly spoken with his southern drawl. He’s actually quite faithful to that,” he said. “Obviously he’s not the stereotypical Elvis that everyone thinks of with lots of sequins and a white jumpsuit and a big gut.
“It’s early Elvis when he’s in his prime. We talked about, if he’s dead and he’s time traveling, how he would want to see himself if he could choose any version of himself to be? That would be it, around the days of ‘Jailhouse Rock’ when he was a sensation.”
On playing Elvis Presley, Jason Cutler explained that while the character may be stereotypical in many ways, the role had to be played honestly.
“It’s really damn tough,” he said, “to distill the traits of a well-known human into the (admittedly flexible) confines of an absurd comedy.”
The show’s magical element also throws up technical challenges.
Mitchinson said that the show would involve some special effects ― in one a painting transforms, in another the roof of the bar lifts away ― and that he was pleased with how they had turned out.
“I come from a kind of a technical background when it comes to theater, so one of the main reasons why I decided to do this show was to take on these challenges and see what I could do, to make them happen on stage,” he said.
“I wanted make it as real as we could to give the audience that experience as well, of these magical things happening around them.”
White Box’s creative director Desiree Munro said that the theater wanted to show an extra element to their range by producing a family-friendly show.
“This is a clever 80-minute comedy. It’s snappy, witty, silly at times and a lot of fun. It truly has something everyone can enjoy.”
The show will feature Korean subtitles and is suitable for all ages. Mitchinson said there were moments of silliness, but other times had a more philosophical air.
“There’s a whole range of comedy. It’s very cleverly written,” he said.
“It goes from sight gags and very low humor to a kind of exploration of the ideals behind creation. It’s all about where inspiration comes from and the nature of genius.
“These magical things start happening on this particular night where they’re together and it’s kind of how they deal with them that reveals how they feel about ideas and where they come from and how even an everyday thing can inspire you.”
“Picasso at the Lapin Agile” will be shown at White Box Theatre, Hyochang Park in Seoul on Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 4 p.m. Additional Saturday and Sunday shows at the same times will be on Oct. 27-28. All tickets are 15,000 won.
For tickets and directions to the theater, visit www.probationarytheatre.com
By Paul Kerry (
paulkerry@heraldcorp.com)
