When Johnny returns home to visit his family after four years, he finds a less-than-eager welcome from his artist father. But Johnny has secrets, and soon, these secrets will lead the entire family into a colorful conspiracy in “How to Steal a Picasso.”
~Review and Photos by Dana Nöllsch~
More about the Story
Johnny comes home to his family after a long absence. He has plans that his family has no idea about, but they will soon.
When Johnny arrives at the family home, he finds a less than stellar reception from his father, Otto, which brings quite a bit of tension to their reunion.
Otto is unhappy with his art career and finds himself working for the Detroit Institute of Arts. Otto’s frustration affects the entire family and keeps everyone on edge. But Otto is sure that his art career will pick up with the help of the local Artist co-op.
Johnny’s sister, Casey, works as a security guard at the Institute of Arts, where her father got her the job. Being a security guard affords her access to places she probably should not have access to since she is a bit of a rebel and malcontent.
Holding all this together is Belle, Otto’s wife and mother to Johnny and Casey. She keeps their house in order in a rough part of town next to a local bar and its rowdy patrons. But Belle is not ready for the drama to come.
Then there is Ms. Walker, the chief operating officer of the Detroit Institute of Arts, who is looking for a missing artwork. There is also a deep conspiracy and plenty of colorful paintings.
The writing is clever, and the story is captivating in this slightly dark family comedy.
What about the Performances
The cast works wonderfully together, bringing the story of How to Steal Picasso to the stage. What struck me was how much fun the cast was having. There are those rare times when you can tell that the cast fits their roles and is a truly cohesive group; this is one of those times.
And I must shout out to David Zybert for the brilliant directing. The director is often overlooked, but when you have a talented, driven director like David, it absolutely shows in the performances.
The Bottom Line
You are in for a treat when you go see How to Steal a Picasso at Restless Artists Theatre. This small and intimate theatre, combined with a hilarious story and a cast that brings it to life as vividly as a master’s work of art, is the perfect combination for a wonderful evening or perhaps a matinee.
And that’s the Bottom Line!
How to Steal a Picasso
Directed by David Zybert
Cast
Belle Smith: Annikki Larsson
Otto Smith: Gary Cremeans
Johnny Smith: Matthew Highground
Casey Smith: Alexandra Jobe
Ms. Walker: Debra Lynn Hull
Performance Dates
March 14th, 15th, 16th, 17th, 21st, 22nd, 23rd, and 24th
Purchase tickets here: https://cur8.com/17538/project/129176
Restless Artists Theatre Company
295 20th Street, Sparks
775 525-3074
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