Gateway

Issue date: 10/10/08 Section: Arts & Leisure

"Picasso at the Lapin Agile" features a heated debate between Albert Einstein and Pablo Picasso, which includes other patrons of the Lapin Agile. (courtesy Theatre Department) [Click to enlarge]

The scene is Oct. 8, 1904, in a bar called the Lapin Agile (French for "nimble rabbit") in Paris.

There, two men - Albert Einstein and Pablo Picasso - are on the verge of breakthrough, but meet to discuss the values of genius and talent among themselves and other bar patrons.

Einstein is rapidly approaching his Annus Mirabilis papers where he revolutionizes modern physics, in the final paper coming up with his iconic E = mc2 formula. Picasso, on the other hand, is well on the way to inventing Cubism and his seminal "Les Demoiselles d'Avignon," depicting five prostitutes in Barcelona.

Einstein and Picasso continue their debate until they are interrupted by a visitor at the end of Steve Martin's first full-length play.

UNO Theatre will bring "Picasso at the Lapin Agile" to life starting this weekend in the Weber Fine Arts Building.

"Picasso" will be directed by Amy Lane, an adjunct faculty member in the theatre department. She has directed across the country. At UNO, she directed "Reckless" and served as curator for the New Ways/New Works Festival, directing the world premier of "Let It Bleed."

"'Picasso' is, at its heart, a play about dreams - about the ability to make dreams (no matter how large or small) a reality," Lane wrote in her director's notes. "In the play, we are introduced to two young geniuses, Albert Einstein and Pablo Picasso, at the brink of monumental creations, each of which will change the world forever."

A preview performance was scheduled for Thursday night. Performances run Friday and Saturday, as well as Oct. 15 through Oct. 18. The house opens at 7 p.m. each night.

Ticket prices are $15 for general admission and $12 for students and seniors. Group rates and season memberships are also offered.

Tickets can be purchased in person, via e-mail at unoboxoffice@mail.unomaha.edu or by calling (402) 554-2335. For more information, contact Kelli Still at (402) 554-2406 or visit the theatre department's Web site, unotheatre.com.

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