When I first heard that Charleston Stage would be producing Picasso, I could not wait to audition. I am a fan of Steve Martin and of this script in particular. As soon as I was cast as Germaine, I started my character research. In many ways, a fictional character is more fun to research because you can let your imagination run wild in terms of family background and past experiences and relationships. With this and research of the time period, along with very helpful suggestions from the director, I began to form a character.It was exciting to see Germaine change and grow with each rehearsal. Each night, she became a little feistier, a little more bold and more and more connected to the characters around her. Getting on to the set and in costume really helped to solidify Germaine as a flirty, fiery, feminine French woman living in the first decade of the twentieth century. And, really, is there any other kind?
(Jan Gilbert as Germaine and Robbie Thomas as Freddy)