The Metromaniacs

Supremely clever playwright David Ives (All in the Timing, Time Flies) gives us this uproarious new “translaptation” of a classic French farce. In 18th-century Paris, young people like Damis have gone métromanie—crazy for poetry. Indeed, Damis has fallen in love with a mysterious poetess sight unseen, charmed by her verse alone. But unbeknownst to him, his beloved is actually a middle-aged gentleman named Francalou! This mistaken identity sets in motion a comedy of pseudonyms, plot twists, and plenty of playful poetry. The Washington Post called Ives’s play “almost criminally enjoyable, a marvel of old and new, with punch lines that glisten with classical flair and contemporary savvy.” Legendary American stage director Michael Kahn makes his Globe debut.