If Machiavelli rather than The Village
Voice had inspired Ayckbourn’s
Fiona and Teresa, they may have ended
up in Wallace Shawn’s rollicking,
bawdy, and hilarious adaptation of The
Mandrake. Originally commissioned
by Joseph Papp for The New York
Shakespeare Festival, Wallace’s
play brings Niccolo Machiavelli’s
classical Italian comedy about love,
cuckoldry, and money into the English
language with terrific idiosyncratic
humor and witty turns of phrase. The title
comes from the old wives' tale that a
woman who drinks a potion made from the
mandrake root is certain to conceive
a child, the only drawback being that
the man with whom she first has sex after
taking the potion will die within eight
days.
The
Mandrake also proved to be a
launching pad for Mr. Shawn’s prolific
film acting career. While performing
in the
Public Theatre production, he was spotted
by Woody Allen’s casting director
and the rest is history. Mr. Shawn is
well known for his work in such films
as Manhattan, My
Dinner with Andre, The
Princess Bride, and Uncle
Vanya on 42nd Street. His newest
play Grasses
of a Thousand Colours, directed
by Andre Gregory, premiered last June
at the Royal Court
Theatre and received rave reviews from
the British Press as well as critics
across the pond. Mr. Shawn received OBIE
awards for his plays Our Late
Night and
The Fever. Adult themes,
content and language.
Jacqueline Reid directs a
cast of ten in FUSION’s Southwest
premiere of The Mandrake. “…a
well nigh perfect play…it is merry
and will make you merry.” – The
New Yorker.
The Mandrake continues
through May 2nd with Thursday and
Friday performances
at 8:00 p.m., two performances on Saturdays
at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m., and Sundays at 6:00
p.m. For tickets and information call 766-9412
or click here:
Single tickets are $30
for general admission, $25 for students
and seniors. Thursday performances (excluding
opening night) feature a $10.00 student
rush (with valid I.D.) and $20 actor
rush (with professional resume.) The
first Sunday 9/13 is a pay-what-you-wish
performance. Group discounts are also
available. Substantial discounts are
available when you purchase a 
Free parking is plentiful
in our lot just north of the theatre.
The Cell is located at 700 1st St. N.W.,
just west of Broadway and south of Lomas.