The Magnificent Cuckold

Made famous by Meyerhold’s biomechanical production in the 1920s, The Magnificent Cuckold comes back to life in a fresh new translation. The play tells the story of the manic poet Bruno, who is so tortured by the fear of becoming a cuckold that he prefers the certainty of it. He forces his beloved wife Stella into bed with his best friend, and when that fails to appease him, offers her to all the young men in town. This demented decision disrupts every household and puts Stella’s life in danger. Crammed with caricature, mockery, masquerade and betrayal, The Magnificent Cuckold is also a psychological drama of unusual depth. East River Commedia’s highly physical acting style and contemporary approach to classics make this a hilarious and deeply troubling examination of sexual jealousy.