Curtain Calls: Step behind the scenes in Berkeley for a Machiavellian twist

If you remember your history, the name Niccolo Machiavelli might ring a bell. Author of “The Prince,” a 16th-century text on political theory and philosophy, Machiavelli’s name is also linked with the Medici family – another familiar name.

Playwright Gary Graves has taken facts about Machiavelli and added his own creative twist in a fascinating play currently running at Central Works through April 16.

“Mondragola,” which refers to the mandrake root and its aphrodisiac properties, has the once powerful Machiavelli now at the bottom of Florence society.

He is a financially struggling playwright hoping to get back into the good graces of the Medici Court by presenting a farcical sex comedy he has written. Unwittingly, he employs actors whose real purpose is a political coup.

In Graves’ work, Machiavelli’s play performs offstage with the audience enjoying the crazy backstage machinations.

“Most people don’t know that the guy we think of as the author of ‘The Prince,’ the infamous ‘Handbook for Tyrants,’ was also the most popular playwright in his day,” Graves said. “History tells us Machiavelli’s play ‘La Mandragola’ was first performed at a private soiree for an elite audience in Florence in 1522. I wondered what might have happened behind the scenes backstage.”

Graves’ imaginative work takes place at Berkeley City Club’s intimate theater with the audience surrounding the action on three sides. There is no backstage area, so actors enter/exit through the two doors the audience uses as well as a door out to one of the many beautiful courtyards in this historic building.

Director Jan Zvaifler uses the space well with lots of fast-paced action between the three doors and a talented cast of four more than capable of portraying their complex characters.

Rudy Guerrero, in a nicely nuanced performance as the once powerful Machiavelli, barely controls his rage one minute and is all sweetness the next as he attempts to placate his actors and patrons. Monique Crawford is the sexy, committed political radical with Edwin Jacobs her partner and the perfect provocateur. Steve Ortiz plays the not-so-dumb sidekick who has a very funny character switch at the end.

Tammy Berlin designed the beautiful period costumes with Graves designing the lighting.

Now in its 33rd season, Central Works is committed to new works. “Mondragola” is its 70th world premiere.

“New plays are the lifeblood of the theater,” Zvaifler said. “We look at current events, politics, classic literature and traditional storytelling to bring our audience face to face with the challenges of our lives every day.”

For tickets to “Mondragola” and the other new endeavors in Central Works’ 33rd season, call 510-558-1381 or go to centralworks.org.

Also in Berkeley: The Shotgun Players just began the run of Pierre Carlet De Marivaux’s “The Triumph of Love.” The 18th century play with music tells of Leonide, who adopts the dress and attitudes of a man to win over her love.

For this production, the creative geniuses at Shotgun have transformed the Ashby Stage in Berkeley into a mythical garden with audience members able to purchase a picnic box and enjoy the show from a comfy onstage seat.

Patrick Dooley directs a cast which includes Veronica Renner (Sonya in Shogun’s popular “Comet”) in the role of Leonide.

“Triumph” runs through April 23. Call 510-841-6500, Ext. 303 or go to shotgunplayers.org.

Oakland: Receiving a letter from a mother believed dead, 21-year-old twins Racine and Anaia embark on an odyssey as they seek to avenge their past. Aleshea Harris spins the complex story in her multi-award-winning play “Is God Is.”

Weaving the ancient, the modern, the Spaghetti Western, hip-hop and Afropunk, Harris tells the tale of two women seeking justice and taking control of their lives.

Directed by William Hodgson, “Is God Is” makes its Bay Area premiere after successful runs off-Broadway and London’s West End. The cast features Rolanda D. Bell (Anaia), Jamella Cross (Racine), Tanika Baptiste (Angie/She), Devin Cunningham (Hall/Riley) and Anthony Rollins-Mullens (Scotch/Man).

“‘Is God Is’ is a powerful piece of theater. Without even seeing it staged, it terrified me at first read,” Hodgson said. “At its heart is a violent act against black women. But what happens when those innocents, victims of a crime that lasts a lifetime, pick up the tools used against them and decide to fight fire with fire?”

“Is God Is” runs Friday through April 23 at the Oakland Theater Project, 1501 Martin Luther King Jr. Way, Oakland. For tickets, call 510-646-1126 or go to oaklandtheaterproject.org.

More in Berkeley: If you thought you had missed Dan Hoyle’s “Talk to Your People,” have no fear. Hoyle’s latest piece of immersion research theater has been extended through April 15 at the March Berkeley, 22120 Allston Way, Berkeley.

The amazingly versatile Hoyle uses his ability to rapidly change characters to showcase a crazy group of personas including a hipster academic, an Argentine Marxist techie and a NorCal hippie jock in a “a soul-crushing” corporate job.

Go to themarsh.org for tickets.

Sally Hogarty can be reached at sallyhogarty@gmail.com. Read more of her reviews online at eastbaytimes.com/author/sally-hogarty.