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Regional Reviews: Phoenix A Weekend with Pablo Picasso Also see Gil's reviews of End of the Rainbow, Greater Tuna, The Three Javelinas, Shrek the Musical
The theatrical conceit is that Picasso's family is away in Paris, so he is alone in his studio in the south of France. His agent has just called to let him know he's been commissioned to create six paintings, but they need to be completed by Monday. The audience represents a group of art students who have been sent by his agent to watch him work and to ensure that he finishes the commissions. Over the course of the 90-minute play, Siguenza's Picasso teaches us about art, life and love, we watch him create and we learn a little about the man himself. Picasso is 76 at the time of the play, so he's already lived a very full life. The play is full of quotable lines, some from Picasso's actual writings, which allow us to get a glimpse into his past as well as a better understanding of the mind of a great artist. "It took me four years to paint like Raphael, but a lifetime to paint like a child," he states, and the childlike playfulness that Siguenza brings to Picasso is quite effective in showing how you need to be playful to create. He also shows how Picasso could have served as an inspirational speaker with lines like, "Action is the foundation to all success." He talks about his appreciation for his fellow artists like Matisse, but also complains about other artists who he thinks aren't as good as he is. When his dealer tells him the quick deadline to complete the paintings, Picasso comments, "Who do you think I am, Dali?" and he also shows his disdain for modern painter Jackson Pollock, who he says seems more focused on the structure of his paintings and not the feelings he should draw upon for them. While the majority of the "lessons" we are given are about art, Siguenza also weaves into the play details about Picasso's life. We get snippets about the influence that politics had on both him and his paintings, how a vow he made with God when his sister was dying could have stopped him from painting all together, and how the many women he loved in his lifetime took a toll on him as well. While Siguenza interweaves these details effectively into the piece, they don't have much of a payoff and seem to exist to just check off a list of facts that he wants us to know about the artist. He briefly mentions Picasso's membership in the Communist party as well as how his famous anti-war piece "Guernica" was his reaction to the events of the time, but the comments only scratch the surface of these serious subjects, with no additional information stated before moving on to the next item on the list. It is because of this lax structure and focus that, while we feel like we have spent a weekend with Picasso, we never clearly understand who the man is beyond seeing his playfulness and his attention to his craft. Fortunately, Siguenza is a skilled artist himself and what helps A Weekend with Pablo Picasso become an interesting theatrical piece is that Siguenza paints several pieces throughout the play. While some are only brief sketches, the speed at which he paints, the joy of seeing the art of creation unfold on stage, and the sheer exuberance Siguenza has in playing Picasso, help to bring the play to life. Director Todd Salovey manages to keep the trajectory of the play moving forward, though he can't do much to alleviate the disjointed structure. Giulio Cesare Perrone's set is mainly all white, which is quite effective in its relation to the blank canvas state in which most art begins. Victoria Petrovich has created a stream of interesting projections, including pieces of artwork, newsreel footage, photographs, and even a letter that help to make Picasso's larger than life personality explode across the stage. Ross Glanc's lighting is effective in portraying the various times of day as well as the nightmares Picasso has. Picasso's belief that you paint what you feel and not what you see is at the center of A Weekend with Pablo Picasso. Unfortunately, we don't quite feel much from the play since Siguenza only scratches the surface of Picasso's life. While the play is considerably disjointed and wanders all over the place, Siguenza's lively take on Picasso, how he demonstrates how the artist lived life to its fullest, and his ability to create art in front of our eyes helps offset some of the play's shortcomings and brings Picasso's statement that "life and possibilities are everywhere" vibrantly to life. A Weekend with Pablo Picasso at Arizona Theatre Company runs through May 17th, 2015, at the Herberger Theater Center, 222 E. Monroe Street in Phoenix. Tickets can be purchased at www.arizonatheatre.org or by calling (602) 256 —6995. Director: Todd Salovey Cast: *Member Actors Equity Association
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