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Laughs Lacking In 'Lapin'

Photo from Jobsite Theater

Chris Holcom (seated) plays Picasso and Jason Vaughan Evans (standing) is Einstein in Jobsite Theater's production of "Picasso at the Lapin Agile."

By KATHY L. GREENBERG

Tribune correspondent

Published: January 11, 2009

TAMPA - Timing is everything in comedy. The marks have to be hit just right or the jokes fall flat. Case in point: Jobsite Theatre's production of Steve Martin's "Picasso at the Lapin Agile" often misses the beat. It's just not that funny. Jobsite and director Kari Goetz can't take all the blame, though. Martin killed a lot of laughs trying too hard to be a smart guy.

The story takes place at a Parisian bar (the Lapin Agile) in 1904. A cast of kooky characters, including Albert Einstein, talks about Pablo Picasso over drinks. Gaston (Steve Garland) is an old guy with prostate problems and punch lines. He's the stereotypical Frenchman who philosophizes about sex, drinking and regular bathroom breaks.

Then there's the idiot savant barkeep Freddy (Matt Lunsford), whose rugged good looks and accidental flashes of genius keep his buxom girlfriend Germaine (Christen Petitt) from straying too far.

While waiting for his date to show up, Einstein (Jason Evans) contemplates the universe. Suzanne (Jennifer Rae), one of Picasso's many conquests, shakes up the joint with a bit of gossip about the artist. A couple more characters burst onto the scene and add to the Vaudevillian exchanges: a sheister named Schmendiman (J. Duggan) and a sparkly random visitor (Dominic Russo) from the future, aka Thin Elvis.

Lunsford has an easier time managing the drinks than his lines. His seeming discomfort reciting silly jokes over a false beer belly and a dodgy American accent (he's British) are distracting. He's usually a steady player, so it's a real disappointment to see him fumble this time.

Evans, Garland and newcomer Duggan have a good handle on their hyperbolic characters and the requisite comedy. Duggan's agile eyebrows alone could make him a star someday.

The rest of the cast plays along all right, but the overall effect glorifies juvenile shenanigans - a trademark of the playwright's "SNL" days. The only thing missing is an arrow hat.

It's pretty clear that Martin meant to blend his wild and crazy side with deeper thoughts. Unfortunately, this mix only makes mud pie.