Event

The Mandrake

By Niccolo Macchiavelli
In a translation by Wallace Shawn

Directed by David Gassner, Theater Schmeater's new Artistic Director, The Mandrake offers a comically scurrilous tale of sexual desire, deceit, and deception. Written during the Medici ascendancy in Florence, Macchiavelli wove a hilarious tale of obsession greed and lust: Wally Shawn's translated adaptation provides modern poignancy to characters who might be found today in Rome, New York, or even Seattle.

The young swain Callimacho has become smitten with Lucrezia, the beautiful, chaste wife of middle aged merchant Nicia. Employing the devious cunning of Ligurio, a grifter, Callimacho uses disguise, guile and greed to obtain the favors of his obsession. With satirical swings at Doctors and Dunces, Lawyers and Lovers, Macchiavelli exposes human foibles with surgical satire, rapier wit, and benign resignation towards the nature of man.

The Mandrake features a talented cast; Cristopher Berns as Siro, Jason Marr as Callimacho, Jill Snyder as Ligurio, Richard Clairmont as Nicia, John Bianchi as Brother Timothy, Tina Albro as Lucrezia, Jonathan Wright as Madonna Sostrata, and Andy Clawson as the Woman in the Church. Original music was written by Jonathan Wright. Costume design is by Julia Evanovich. The set is designed by Doug Staley, with lighting by Michael Ricciardi.