When Pablo Picasso lived in Vauvenargues, a woman was
strolling along and spotted him sketching at a sidewalk café. “The woman asked
if I could sketch her, and charge accordingly. I obliged. In just ten minutes,
I drew her. There it was: an original Picasso. “Oh, how much do I owe you?” she
asked. “Five thousand Francs, madam’. But it only took you three minutes,”
“No!” I said, “It took me –all-my- life.”
“A Weekend with Picasso” is the work of a lifetime; one that
Siguenza has been preparing for many moons. He is simply wonderful, playful and
completely at ease as Picasso’s alter ego. His energy is contageous, his humor as Picasso is smart and truthful and his works of art, an artist in his own right, are recreated in seconds... with a little help from his design team.
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| Seguenza doing what Picasso does best |
In an engrossing, passionate and magical (80 minutes) “A
Weekend with Pablo Picasso”, now playing at New Village Arts Theatre in
Carlsbad Village through Aug. 25, writer, actor, painter Herbert Siguenza takes
on the role of Picasso for one weekend at his studio/home in France, where he
will tell you chapter and verse about the man himself as he channels Picasso’s
every move, mannerism, mood, philosophy, chuckle and thought. He dances,
clowns, speaks several languages and gets dead serious about politics, war, past
and present.
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An accomplished artist in his own right, Siguenza will paint
a few portraits on stage, some still life and embellish some already finished
products. He will tell you about the women in his life, (“When I kiss a woman,
I leave my eyes open. I want to see everything”) his politics (with passion)
and what a great person he is. Well? “I do not wish my celebrity on anyone…not
even my worst enemies”… “The whole world demands from me”.
He’s seventy-six at the time of this telling in 1957. “Time is a bandit. When it’s gone, it’s gone,
like a taxi -meter. No argument. The older I get, the stronger the wind
gets-and it’s always in my face. I’m afraid I have less and less time yet more
and more to say”.
“A Weekend with Pablo Picasso” was work shopped at the San
Diego Rep. in 2010 as work in progress. Siguenza, a founding member of the
performance group Culture Clash, wrote the piece that includes quotes from
Picasso’s writings.
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| Geurnica |
Siguenza has taken his work and performed it in Denver, San
Francisco, Houston, and Los Angeles and now it’s back for a return engagement at
NVA. With Todd Salovey once more at the helm, the show is as polished and smooth
as ever and the love story between world famous painter and artist of many
talents is truly a gift from Siguenza to his audiences.
At the time of the play, the now famous Picasso was completing
a commission for six paintings and three vases for a wealthy patron. The play
takes place in his studio in the South of France where he is working feverishly
to complete his commission. (“Who do you think I am, Dali?”) Speaking directly to the audience, as the
performance opens, he agrees to let us in on his work habits only of we promise
to leave at the end of the weekend.
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| Picasso At Work |
Visuals of a painter at work are everywhere; a pencil drawing
of a young Picasso, a photo of Picasso with his wife Dora Maar, cubist
paintings, African art, a photo of Picasso working on Guernica, (Giulio Perrone
properties/ set/scenic design/with recreated styles and clothing that Picasso
actually wore in famous photographs by Douglas Duncan 1957/59 that some might
call casual elegance.). His studio is visual wonder packed with wooden packing
crates, books, photos, food, clothing, easels, engravings with hand scrawled
messages and reminders about his glory days.
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With Bruno Louchouarn’s impressive sound design, Curtis
Miller’s lighting design and Victoria Petrovich’s standout projections of war
footage among other things, this completed solo piece is a must see.
See you at the theatre.
Dates: Through Aug 25th
Organization: New Village Arts
Phone: 760-433-3245
Production Type: Solo Performance
Where: 2787 State Street, Carlsbad, CA
Ticket Prices: $25.00-$36.00
Web: newvillagearts.org
Photo: Daren Scott
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