The same weekend that the versatile Steve Martin appears on stage at the Napa Valley Opera House, the Napa Valley College Repertory Theater will present his first stage comedy.

Martin’s off-Broadway hit comedy “Picasso at the Lapin Agile” opens Friday and runs through Nov. 15 with performances on Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m.

This long-running Off-Broadway absurdist comedy places Albert Einstein and Pablo Picasso in a Parisian cafe in 1904, just before the renowned scientist transformed physics with his theory of relativity and the celebrated painter set the art world afire with Cubism.

In his first comedy for the stage, the popular actor and screenwriter plays fast and loose with fact, fame and fortune as these two geniuses muse on the century’s achievements and prospects as well as other fanciful topics.

Bystanders, including Picasso’s agent, the bartender and his mistress, Picasso’s date, an elderly philosopher, Charles Dabernow Schmendimen, and an idiot inventor, introduce additional flourishes of humor. The final surprise patron to join the merriment at the Lapin Agile is a charismatic dark-haired singer time warped in from a later era.

The cast includes Francisco Garat as Pablo Picasso; Alex Lydon as Albert Einstein; Zachary Stockton as Freddie (the owner of the Lapin Agile); Midori Morgan as Germaine (Freddie’s girlfriend and waitress); Nolan Kenmonth as Sagot (an art dealer); Walter Phelps as Gaston and Phillip Ferrero as Charles Dabernow Schmendimen. Lindsay Stoltz, last seen at NVC as Gertrude in “Seussical,” plays three roles: Suzanne, the Countess and the Woman. Guest Artist Chad Yarish, who recently appeared in “All the Great Books (abridged)” plays the Visitor.

Jennifer King, the newly tenured theater arts professor and NVC artistic director, directs the performance.

Set and lighting designer is Michael Barney and costume designer is Jan Molen.

If you go

•What: ‘Picasso at the Lapin Agile’

• Where: Napa Valley College Little Theater

• When: Nov. 6, 7, 13, 14, 8 p.m. Nov. 8 and 15, 2 p.m.

• Tickets: $15 general; $10 seniors, students, military

First weekend student discount: Buy one ticket and get the other free with valid NVC or high school student ID.

• Reservations: 259-8077.