The Mandrake

A young student falls madly in lust with his city’s most beautiful woman. The problem is that she is married to an old miserly lawyer. Can our young hero fulfill his desire without destroying his soul or reputation? After an infamous career in politics Machiavelli turned playwright, bringing his cunning to the comedic stage. In a celebrated translation by American actor and playwright Wallace Shawn, this early Italian sex comedy is complete with amoral intrigues, titillating disguises, and scintillating rendezvous; lampooning lawyers, doctors and the clergy. But don’t worry about being too offended, with the help of the mystical mandrake root the play brings all to a hysterical and happy ending.