The Rape of the Lock

Written in unique rhymed couplets, Paul Hagen’s the Rape of Lock pays homage to Alexander Pope’s famous satire even as it puts a 21st-century spin on the story, arousing questions on the nature of men and women, art and violence.

In this adaptation of his classic 18th century mock-epic poem, Alexander Pope is portrayed as the crankiest playwright ever, as five actors alternately suffer under and subvert his tyrannical direction. The “lock” in question is a precious, perfect, curly lock of hair on the lovely and vain Belinda’s head, and the “rape” of that lock by the lustful and determined Baron involves not only a pair of scissors, but an inevitable trail of gossip, jealousy, rivalry, seduction, conquest, and revenge.