Producing the Play

Production 1
Basic Facts
Producing Organization : Stephen Eich, Joan Stein, Leavitt/Fox Theatricals/Mages
Theatre: Promenade Theatre
New York, New York
October 6, 1995- May 26, 1996
Director: Randall Arney
Designers:
Set: Scott Bradley
Lighting: Kevin Rigdon

"Martin's gift for punnery and zingers -- not to mention farce and polemic -- can only shadow Stoppard's, but it's real enough. A larger problem is that we can imagine the author playing every one of these denizens of the Lapin Agile, including an alter kocker (Carl Don) with a busy bladder, and Germaine (Rondi Reed, splendid as the voice of reason), Freddy's helpmate who lectures Picasso: 'You will never have to earn a woman and you will never appreciate a woman.' "
JEREMY GERARD, Variety
http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117904607.html?categoryid=33&cs=1y.com/review/VE1117904607.html?categoryid=33&cs=1

"The last 15 minutes of the play become slowly more and more desperate. The ideas that have been touched upon turn into fudge. Mr. Martin's manner is to so mix the sublime with the ridiculous that they cant be easily disentangled."
VINCENT CANBY, The New York Times.
Oct 23, 1995


Production 2
Basic Facts
Producing Organization: Stephen Eich, Joan Stein, Leavitt/Fox
Theatre: Steppenwolf
Chicago, Illinois
Wed. October 13, 1993 — Thu. May 12, 1994
Director: Randall Arney
Designers:
Set: Scott Bradley
Lighting: Kevin Rigdon

"This points to Martin's ultimate, yet unclear, point. A refined intellectual still pegged with a "wild and crazy guy" reputation, he's exploring the struggle between being a genius or just famous, between epochal ideas and mere notions, between the optimism of the new and the skepticism of the familiar. It's an ambitious agenda, one that Martin never quite sorts out, even if the actors turn in spirited, convincing performances."
Jonathan Taylor, Variety
October 30, 1993


"Steve Martin's "Picasso at the Lapin Agile" demonstrates the well-known actor/comedian/author can write funny. But Martin hasn't been able to get beyond the often corny jokes to create a satisfying play. By the time its 80-minute running time is over, "Picasso" is done in by superficial stabs at character development, the absence of a coherent, compelling storyline and a coarsely directed production that merely emphasizes the work's faults."
Lewis Lazare, Daily Variety
October 25, 1993 Monday


Production 3
Basic Facts
Producing organization: The Arden Theatre Company
Theatre: The Arden Theatre
Philadelphia, PA
03/01/2001-04/01/2001
Director: Aaron Posner
Designers:
Scenic Design: Bob Phillips
Costume Design: Marla Jurglani

"The Lapin Agile depicted here doesn't have a turn of the century Parisian flavor, although its crazy, modern air could have inhabited a place frequented by futuristic thinkers and free thinking artists. It's imbued with the spirit of something new on the horizon, but a far cry from 1904 Montmartre because of its myriad winking references and humorous insights which would have been quite impossible to foresee in those days. Martin has a ball with the dialogue and he throws around a lot of funny material, both lightweight and nearly bordering on profound. The play is also about attraction, creativity, and ideas that didn't work as well as ideas that did."
Katheryn Oselund, http://www.curtainup.com/tainup.com/
http://www.curtainup.com/picasso.html

"Picasso at the Lapin Agile, playwright Steve Martin's idea of what might have happened if Pablo Picasso and Albert Einstein had met as unknowns at a celebrated Montmartre cafe in 1904, is too funny for you to ruin your ride home with philosophical inquiry. Better to rehash the show's most risible lines and situations, which should occupy the entire trip and then some."
Clifford A. Ridley, The Philadelphia Inquirer
MARCH 8, 2001




Production 4
Basis facts
Producing organization: The Commonweal Theatre Company
Theatre: The Commonweal Theatre Company
Lanesboro, MN
May 14, 2010- September 25, 2010
Director: Zach Curtis
Designers
Set Designer: Kit Mayer
Sound designer: Stan Peal



"Steve Martin has much to say about art, science and the future. This is a deep piece people weren't quite expecting from him, but he's not above cheap humor, either"
TERRY RINDFLEISCH, Lacross Tribune
May 9, 2010

"Picasso at the Lapin Agile" which is currently running at the commonweal Theatre in Lanesboro, is a carnival of ideas, half-baked schemes and moments of sheer wonder following one after the other. The audience- and actors- are left to grasp what they can as it zooms past."
Tom Weber, Post Bulletin
June 7, 2010

Production 5
Basic Facts
Producing Organization: Two Rivers Theatre Company
Theatre: Two Rivers Theatre
Red Bank, New Jersey
May 31, 2010- June 13, 2010
Director: Hal Brooks
Designers:
Costume: Kirche Leigh Zeile
Set: Donyale Werle


"Lapin Agile (it means nimble rabbit) is short on plot, but it sets a tantalizing mood. For those of us who greeted the new millennium with a countdown to the planet's ruin, it's awfully pleasant to spend time with characters at the dawn of a new century who are optimistic, even entranced by the future's grand possibilities. That doesn't mean the subject won't be treated irreverently."
Anita Gates, New York Times
June 1, 2010


"A sharp and energetic cast is performing Steve Martin's hilarious stand-up absurdist comedy of a play Picasso at the Lapin Agile with brio at the Two River Theatre in Red Bank. Martin's dialogue will keep your mind happily engaged as you try to keep up with it. If you would like to have your brain teased by an adroit wordsmith with an off-beat sense of humor, look no further for delightful entertainment."
Bob Rendall, http://www.talkinbroadway.com/
http://www.talkinbroadway.com/regional/nj/nj404.html

Production 6
Basic Facts

Producing Organization: New Rep Theatre Company
Theatre: New Rep Theatre
Boston, Massachusetts
April 19- May 10, 2010
Director: Daniel Gidron
Designers:
Set: Cristina Todesco
Sound: Dewey Delay



Statement

With Picasso at the Lapin Agile the production problems aren't really the physical and technical problems of most shows. Most of the problems lye in the dialogue and characters. For one the show is heavily dipped in history. In 1904 there was quite a lot going on in the world of art and science, some more obvious than others. In order for the show to have it's full effect it's important for the audience to get most of the references and boy, there are a lot. Everyone will know who Picasso and Einstein are, but will they know of Apollinaire or Max Plank? Not to mention that the play, at sometimes, can move at a lightning fast speed. Another problem is that the play is almost completely Steve Martin. Usually that would be a good thing, the only problem is you could see him play every single character! That’s not to say that there aren't any technical issues in the show. On the contrary, there are three rather large ones, like the entrance of the Visitor. The Visitor enters near the end of the play mysteriously from the bathroom. Another problem would be when the Visitor shows Picasso the Les Demoiselles d'Avignon. It involves a painting of sheep on a hill transforming into the Les Demoiselles d'Avignon. The final problem from a technical standpoint would be at the end of the show the roof of the bar is supposed to come flying off!
The production problems posed by our context aren't that terrifying. For one the show was originally produced in a studio theatre, so doing it in the showcase shouldn't be a huge problem. The main problem I foresee about the showcase would be when the "Sheep on the Hill" transforms into the Les Demoiselles d'Avignon. If we were to do that effect with projections, that would ultimately dictate the entire position of the set. The problem I'm most worried about is the audience. I'm not saying that our audience here at Sam Houston State University is slow, and I'm not saying our audience is unintelligent. All I'm saying is that I don't think our audience is very "art" focused. While we do have a number of art majors at SHSU, most of the students here are majoring in Criminal Justice and Business. And I feel that most of the town folk aren't very art focused either and a lot of jokes and references and points may be lost upon them.
Other productions have done a lot to solve some of these problems. For instance the problem of the Les Demoiselles d'Avignon transformation. This tricky situation was for the most part handled with a simple projection technique. I had an idea, though I haven't decided yet if it is to goofy to follow through with, that the Visitor would walk up to the "Sheep painting" and pull a string and the Les Demoiselles d'Avignon would come down like an old-school window shade. As for the Visitor's entrance one production had strange noises coming from the bathroom and used lights and fog to show "time-travel". As for the roof coming off at the end, one production had built the "rafters" of the Lapin Agile and attached them to a batton, so they could be raised and lowered. That option is not very realistic in our theatre. As for the history, and art references, most theatres put in lobby displays and playbill inserts. One production put in their playbill a number of questions that the audience should be thinking about during the show.
The critics generally responded very well to Picasso at the Lapin Agile. Critiques generally lingered on the script while talking about the specific production for about a paragraph or two. General notes on the script were that it tried to focus on too many things at once, and that while it's concept was high, dealing with the comparison of art and science, it's humor was low, dealing with bathroom jokes. As for the productions almost all of the acting was considered on par, and the design were generally good. One production was criticized for it's set not bringing the essence of Montmartre.

The World of the Play Statement

1904. The 20th century! A new beginning! Hope is in the air, for this new age of discovery. Only four years in and already we have automobiles flying off the assembly lines, airplanes in the sky, workers rights in the works, thoughts of revolution, scientific fields that were never thought possible and a treaty between England and France. What?!? Those two are getting along? This really is an age of progression and innovation! And in Europe two of the most influential minds that art and science have ever seen are budding, getting ready to flower thanks to the influence of this new century.

War! Even in this new time of innovation we cannot escape our violent roots. The Japanese attack the Russians, starting the Russo-Japanese war. It a battle that the Japanese ultimately win, marking the first major victory of an Asian power over a European power. Back at home the Russians aren't particularly happy about the war and the seeds of rebellion are planted. Soon because of the Russo-Japanese war, and other injustices, the Russian government will be overthrown and the rise of communism will begin. On another front the Philippine-American war rages on. Also know as the Philippine revolution, the war served as a statement on colonization and imperialism. And while America won, the old world imperialism was on the fall and would eventually end after World War Two. But it seems that there might still be hope for peace in this new century with the Entente Cordiale bringing the end to a nearly millennia long feud between the United Kingdom and France, creating an alliance that will last until modern day.

The world of science has changed so much in the past few years. Henry Ford's assembly line have turned motor vehicles from a fad of the rich, to an affordable means of conveyance. Soon everyone will be driving these vehicles. The Wright brothers have developed a workable airplane which will lead to mans dominance of the sky in just a few short years. The Nobel Prize made it's debut, which served as incentive for scientific innovation. Albert Einstein promised his first wife that he would win that prize one day and he would give her all of his prize money and all she had to do was divorce him. Max Planck discovered Quantum Physics a field that would dominate the scientific community for the next century, and it would also serve as a starting point for the above mentioned Albert Einstein. And lets not forget about the World Fair in Paris France where such things as talking movies were first showcased. Unfortunately all of these scientific innovations would be turned weapons of death and destruction. The cars will turn into tanks, the flying machines will turn into war-planes, and without quantum physics we wouldn't have nuclear weaponry.

A new age for art is upon us! Pablo Picasso has just recently moved to Paris, Georges Braque is establishing himself on the Parisian art scene, Movie theatres are popping up around the world. Galleries of Vincent Van Gogh are being showed around Paris, waiting to influence young minds. The Les Nabis is formed to bring together the influential artist of Paris to help support each other and bring their works into the public eye. Cubism and Surrealism are just around the corner.

Communication is becoming a greater and greater thing. With the telephone being developed late in the last century many thought that this was the end all be all of communication. But then we had the first radio transmissions to cross the Atlantic. First east to west then west to east. Instant communication from across the sea. This would eventually help the war effort in the World Wars to come. The Panama Canal is under way. This canal will connect the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean again making communication between the east and the west much simpler and much safer.

These were also important times in life of Pablo Picasso and Albert Einstein. As mentioned before Picasso moved to Paris in 1900 where he very literally became a starving artist. He would burn some of his painting in the winter just for a little heat. This was Picasso's "Blue" period, where his paintings focused heavily on human suffering. Albert Einstein on the other hand was going through what must have been a roller coaster of emotions. In 1902 his first child was born out of wedlock, and he was ecstatic about it. But a year later the child passed away from scarlet fever. This must have put a huge strain on his just newly formed marriage. In 1904 however his first son was born.

The beginning of the 20th century was a time of development in all fields. A time of discovery, a time of hope, and a time of new beginnings. Leaders, Artists, Rebels, Scientists, Inventor were all forged in these years.

http://www.keegantheatre.com/olivetti/picasso/index_E.html
www.parisenimages.fr

The World of the Play

Macro
1. February 8, 1904 – A Japanese surprise attack on Port Arthur (Lushun) starts the Russo-Japanese War.
The Russo-Japanese War, marked the first major victory of an Asian power over a European power. It also spread the seeds of political dissent in Russia that would eventually sprout into revolution and the rise of Communism in the world.
2. February 23, 1904 – For $10 million, the United States gains control of the Panama Canal Zone.
The Panama Canal was one of the most ambitious engineering projects in the history of the world. It made trade between the east and the west quicker and safer. Not only the exchange of tangible items, but the exchange of ideas.
3. April 8, 1904 The Entente Cordiale is signed between the UK and France.
The Entente Cordiale was a peace treaty signed between the UK and France. It marked the end of a millennium long feud between the two nation. It signified hope for peace in the new century.
4. December 17, 1903 – Orville Wright flies an aircraft with a petrol engine at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina in the first documented, successful, controlled, powered, heavier-than-air flight.
When man finally learned to fly. This momentous occasion signified a century of progression and innovation.
5. In France, Alfred Loisy writes L'évangile et l'Eglise, which inaugurates the Modernist Crisis.
The Modernist crisis came from Catholics who wanted change, but still wanted to be Catholic. They openly opposed outdated catholic ways, and inspired rebellion and non-conformism.
6. April 2, 1902 – Electric Theatre, the first movie theater in the United States, opens in Los Angeles, California.
Pictures, both moving and still, are becoming a popular medium. Art is no longer being limited to museums and collectors, it is being spread among the populace.
7. January 1, 1901 The world celebrates the beginning of the 20th century.
January first 1901 the first day of the 20th century. The world is brimming with excitement for the future. Airplanes, automobiles, revolution, philosophies, ideas, art, literature are all fueling a new era.
8. December 10, 1901 – The first Nobel Prize ceremony is held in Stockholm on the 5th anniversary of Alfred Nobel's death.
Alfred Nobel was the inventor of dynamite. His life was haunted by the death and destruction he caused, so much so he donated the millions he made to start the Nobel prize, a major incentive created in order to make the world a better place.
9. January 19, 1903 – The first west-east transatlantic radio broadcast is made from the United States to England (the first east-west broadcast having been made in 1901).
Instant communication across the Atlantic ocean, once thought to just be the fevered dream of a mad man. Now made possible by this new century.
10. February 4, 1899 – The Philippine-American War begins as hostilities break out in Manila.
Also known as the Philippine Revolution, it served as a statement on the imperialism and colonization of previous centuries.




Micro
1. March 17, 1901 – A showing of 71 Vincent van Gogh paintings in Paris, 11 years after his death, creates a sensation.
The exhibition of such an influential artist from the previous century could have great affect on artists of the current century.
2. March 31, 1900 – In France, the legal length of a workday for women and children is limited to 11 hours.
Human rights comes to the forefront for working class Parisian. Soon labor unions will become prevalent.
3. April 14, 1900 – The Paris World Exhibition opens.
The world fair, a large gathering science and art exhibits covering 1.12 km is sure to shape some young influential minds.
4. December 7, 1900 – Max Planck announces his discovery of the law of black body emission, marking the birth of quantum physics.
The birth of quantum physics, a field that will dominate science over the course of the 20th century. A field in which a young physicist will not only make his mark but build a base for almost all future scientific discoveries.
5. 1890- Les Nabis, and influential group of artists (including Vincent Van Gogh), is formed to help support each other and showcase each other's works. It also help tighten Paris's hold on being the art capital of the world.
6. 1902- Georges Braque received his Certificate to become a professional decorator. This established him as a painter in France, and allows him to begin experimenting. In 5 years, along with Pablo Picasso, he developes cubism.
7. 1902-1903- The believed life-span Lieserl Einstein. Lieserl Einstein was Albert Einstein's first child with his future wife Mileva Maric. It is believed that she died in 1903.

8. May 1904- Hans Albert Einstein is born. Just a year after the death of his daughter Einstein's first son is born.

9. 1902- The formation of the Olympia Academy, a group of friends who met in Einstein's flat and discussed science and physics and such. This was an instrumental part of Einstein's intellectual development.
10. 1900- Picasso moves to Paris. He learns the language, meets the people, and becomes a starving artist. This is right before Picasso starts his blue period.

The Facts of the Play

Picasso at the Lapin Agile
Basic Facts
By: Steve Martin
Language: English
Structure: 1 Act.
Cast Breakdown (in order of appearance):
Freddy, the owner and bartender of the Lapin Agile, Gaston, an older man, Germaine, waitress and Freddy's wife, Albert Einstein, age twenty-five, Suzanne, nineteen Sagot, Picasso's art dealer, Pablo Picasso, age twenty-three, Charles Dabernow Schmendiman, a young man, The Countess, A female admirer, A Visitor.
Approximate Running Time: One hour, thirty minutes.
Genre Identification: Comedy
Bio: Stephen Glenn "Steve" Martin (born August 14, 1945) is an American actor, comedian, writer, playwright, producer, musician and composer. Martin was born in Waco, Texas, and raised in Southern California, where his early influences were working at Disneyland and Knott's Berry Farm and working magic and comedy acts at these and other smaller venues in the area. His ascent to fame picked up when he became a writer for the Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour, and later became a frequent guest on The Tonight Show. In the 1970s, Martin performed his offbeat, absurdist comedy routines before packed houses on national tours. Since the 1980s, having branched away from stand-up comedy, he has become a successful actor, playwright, pianist, banjo player, and juggler, eventually earning Emmy, Grammy, and American Comedy awards.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Martin
Publication info: Grove Press.
Liscensing and Rights: Share Productions Inc.

Exegesis
Lapin Agile: Meaning "Nimble Rabbit" The Lapin Agile is a bar in Paris, that at the turn of the century was a hot spot for young artists. One of those artists was Pablo Picasso who in 1905 made a painting entitled "At the Lapin Agile".
Absinthe: A spirit which is believed by some to have dangerous psychoactive properties. A favorite among artists and bohemians.
Pejoritive (Pg. 15): Having a disparaging, derogatory, or belittling effect or force.
Mortal Coil (Pg. 20): A poetic term that means the troubles of daily life and the strife and suffering of the world. It is used in the sense of a burden to be carried or abandoned.
Manifesto (Pg. 21): A public declaration of intentions, opinions, objectives, or motives, as one issued by a government, sovereign, or organization.
Vehement (Pg. 21): Zealous; ardent; impassioned.
Raison d'etre (Pg. 21): Reason or justification for being or existence.
The Critique of Pure Reason (Pg. 25): A book by Immanuel Kant, first published in 1781, second edition 1787. It is considered one of the most influential works in the history of philosophy.
Max Planck (Pg. 27): A German physicist. He is considered to be the founder of the quantum theory, and thus one of the most important physicists of the twentieth century. Planck was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1918.
Chablis (Pg. 28): The Chablis region is the northernmost wine district of the Burgundy region in France. The grapevines around the town of Chablis are almost all Chardonnay, making a dry white wine renowned for the purity of its aroma and taste.
Port (Pg. 28): A Portuguese style of fortified wine originating from the Douro Valley in the northern provinces of Portugal. It is typically a sweet, red wine, often served as a dessert wine, and comes in dry, semi-dry, and white varieties.
Rotund (Pg. 31): Round in shape; rounded.
Nattily (Pg. 31): Neatly or trimly smart in dress or appearance.
Mattise (Pg. 32): A French artist, known for his use of colour and his fluid and original draughtsmanship.
Apollinaire (Pg. 33): A French poet, playwright, and art critic born in Italy to a Polish mother.


Fable With Plot Summary
Fable: Freddy, the owner of the Lapin Agile, is setting up the bar when Gaston, an elderly gentlemen, enters singing. Albert Einstein then enters expressing his joy about meeting a girl at the Bar Rouge today. A conversation between Einstein and Freddy about the fact that the Lapin Agile is not the Bar Rouge and how that doesn’t matter is had. Freddy then realizes that, according to the program, Einstein has entered early seeing that he is the fourth to enter not the third. Einstein exits and Germaine enters. Germaine is a waitress and Freddy’s girlfriend and they almost start to get into an argument about why she’s late but then decide against it. Einstein enters again and repeats his first few lines quickly. They get into a discussion on what Einstein does and the book he wants to get published and who he wants to read it. Suzanne enters and declares that she’s there to meet Picasso, and talks about the times that she “met” him. Suzanne and Gaston talk about sex. Sagot, an art dealer, enters and they discuss Picasso and art and Einstein is about to make a toast to Picasso when he enters on some sort of artistic high. He starts putting the moves on Suzanne as if he’s never met her before. Suzanne, offended, sells a painting Picasso gave her to Sagot. Picasso, realizing what he’s done, purchases the painting from Sagot and gives it back to Suzanne, and attempts to win her back, which appears to work. Einstein and Picasso get into a debate about art and science which ends in a draw. Suzanne exits. Sagot exits to go get his camera in order to take a picture of the event. Charles Dabernow Shmendiman enters proclaiming his genius to the bar, speaking of his invention of Schmendinite, an inflexible, brittle, building material. He then leaves. The Countess, Einstein’s lady friend, enters and they exit together. Freddy exits to collect a bar tab from his next door neighbor and Gaston goes to the restroom, leaving Germaine and Picasso. They kiss and discuss their previous fling with each other. Freddy reenters, then Einstein. Then someone who wasn’t there appears from the bathroom. The Visitor comes and shows Picasso his future masterpiece. Sagot enters with the camera and is setting up for the picture when Schmendiman reenters for the picture. They take it and Schmendiman exits. The roof is suddenly taken off the Lapin Agile and they talk about the 20th century and the play ends.
Plot Summary: The "Picasso at the Lapin Agile" begins by introducing us to two of the main characters of the play, Gaston and Freddy. As the play progresses a young Einstein enters and the bar men begin talking about women. As the men continue their conversation Freddy's girlfriend, Germaine, enters late and apologizes for her late arrival by craftily avoiding an argument that could have arisen from her tardiness. The bar people continue on the subject of women when a gorgeous women, Suzanne walks in looking for Picasso, who had been rumored to visit the Lapin Agile. The conversation switches over to sex and Picasso. Freddy, who seems uninterested in the conversation uses Einstein's genius to figure his bills. The conversation then switches to talk of the future where Germaine's explanation is ironically accurate and the men's explanations are incredibly off. Sagot, the art dealer enters, and begins to boast of Matisse's talent and of a new painting he had just received from the painter himself. They then begin to talk about the absent Picasso who has a considerable amount of talent himself. Just as they are about to toast Picasso when he himself walks in. Picasso seems not to remember Suzanne though they had clearly spent time together, this ruins all of the high regard she had once had for Picasso.Picasso and Einstein form a friendship on the basis that they are both artists in their own unique ways. At first Picasso argues that Einstein cannot be an artist because all he deals with is numbers, but Einstein helps Picasso realize that they are in fact similar in their designs. While they continue to debate this point another artist from the future enters, who surprisingly looks and acts like Elvis Presley. The visitor acts as a sign of things to come for Picasso. He shows Picasso that he will one day create a masterpiece that all people will admire. The play ends with the men standing in awe, thinking of what great things are to come. They all toast the new century that is about to begin.

Characters
Freddy (M): The owner of the Lapin Agile, a no bull shit kind of guy.
Gaston (M): An older french gentleman with prostate issues.
Germaine (F): A waitress and Freddy's Girlfriend, very promiscuous. Attractive yet worldly.
Albert Einstein (M): A young Albert Einstein. Nerdy but confident.
Suzanne (F): One of Picasso's flings. Attractive, intelligent yet naive.
Sagot (M): Picasso's Art dealer. Big, boisterous.
Pablo Picasso (M): A young Pablo Picasso. Energetic, charismatic and womanizing
Charles Dabernow Schmendiman (M): The foolish inventor of Schmendimite (a brittle inflexible building material).
The Countess (F): Einstein's lady friend.
A Female Admirer (F): An Admirer of Schmendiman.
A Vistor (M): A time traveling Elvis Presley. A wise country boy.

Statement: "Casting and Characters"

Picasso at the Lapin Agile has a cast of eleven character but can be preformed with nine actors. Suzanne, the Countess, and the Female Admirer can be played by the same woman with the use of a wig, she just has to be young and attractive. Freddy, the bar owner, I picture as a no B.S. kind of guy, and a cynic. Every day he deals with bohemians that are so full of themselves, that he just doesn’t give a damn anymore. I picture him as a larger gentleman. Gaston is an elderly gentleman who’s used to being ignored because of his age and is satisfied with just being a fly on the wall most of the time. I’ll need someone who can play age. Germaine should be attractive as well as worldly. Einstein is 25 at this time but Einstein's is the sort of person who, "will always look 80". He's nerdy but confident. Sagot is large and boisterous. Pablo is young (23) energetic, charismatic, womanizing, and at the same time over-confident and under confident. Schmendiman is energetic and extremely over-confident. The visitor is a wise country boy with a sharp resemblance to Elvis Presley. When it comes to non-traditional casting, for the most part I feel that this script would be well fitted for it. While I don't feel it would be completely historically accurate to put non "white" people in this setting, I don't believe that race plays a huge role in this script. Though I'm sure some would disagree and state that on a grandeur scale race has everything to do with the play, I would say on the personal level that the script is on has little focus on race. I would be uncomfortable with the casting of historical figures with someone of a different race.

Definitions of Dramaturgy

Definitions of Dramaturgy

1. The art of dramatic composition and the representation of the main elements of drama on the stage. Some dramatists combine writing and dramaturgy when creating a drama. Others work with a specialist, called a dramaturg, to adapt a work for the stage. < http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dramaturgy>


2. The craft or the techniques of dramatic composition. <http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/dramaturgy>


3. Dramaturgy is a branch of the theatrical arts which involves bringing productions to life on the stage. The role of a dramaturg in a production can be quite varied, depending on where he or she trained and the philosophy of the theater the dramaturg is working for. http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-dramaturgy.htm>

Gotthold Ephraim Lessing