'Picasso's Women' inspire student play

Pablo Picasso is notably famous for his contributions to the artistic movement
cubism. But he has also been known to have many different women in his life, including wives and mistresses who are often featured in his artwork.

After being painted by Picasso, art historians analyzed these women repeatedly, and they were given an identity that was not their own, said Juliet Barrett, senior theater major and director of the play “Picasso’s Women.”

Irish playwright Brian McAvera wrote the play in 1998 after he conducted immense research on the women behind Picasso’s artwork.

Barrett has taken the play and made it the focus of her honors thesis production by directing an entirely student-run performance, which premiered Thursday and continues 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday.

All performances are in the Studio Theatre in the Lee Norvelle Theatre and Drama Center.

Barrett’s honors thesis focuses on feminism and culminates with this performance, which melds together fine arts and theater.

“I really wanted a meeting space so that artists could work on something and really understand the other person’s craft,” she said.

Barrett is an artist herself. Creating an ensemble that includes different art forms fueled her passion.

To include these art forms, Barrett interviewed a sculptor and a photographer, and together, they created a set that could function not only as a theater production, but also as an installation in a fine arts museum.

“One time we had to go dumpster-diving for wood, so we really tried to make it minimalistic. We wanted it to be about the story,” she said.

“Picasso’s Women” follows four different women, two wives and two mistresses of Picasso. When the women are on stage, they are frozen and simulating different paintings that Picasso painted them in, fitting into their original molds, Barrett said.

As the show progresses, they break out of their original molds, redefine themselves and create their own identities.

One woman featured in the show is Picasso’s wife for the last 20 years of his life, Jacqueline, who was featured in a large number of his paintings.

“Through his art, he represented (the women) in ways that they weren’t necessarily ‘okay’ with,” said Emily Scott, the actress who plays Jacqueline.

“They’ve never gotten their own chance to tell their stories or refute something that was said about them.”

Because of the cast of characters in the play, it is performed by an all-female cast.
Barrett said every person involved in the play is there because of the passion they feel for the show.

“People are doing it because they are passionate about it, and not doing it is simply not an option,” she said. 

Follow reporter Alison Graham on Twitter @AlisonGraham218.