The Mandrake
Encyclopedia
The Mandrake is a satirical play by Italian Renaissance writer Niccolò Machiavelli
. Its tale of the corruption of Italian society was written while Machiavelli was in exile
, allegedly having plotted against the Medici
. The play was written between 1504 and 1518 and first performed in 1518.
The play takes place in a 24-hour period. The protagonist, Callimaco, desires to sleep with Lucrezia, the young and beautiful wife of an elderly fool, Nicia. Nicia above all else desires a son and heir, but still has none. Callimaco, conspiring with a rascally marriage broker and a priest, masquerades as a doctor. He convinces Nicia to drug Lucrezia with mandrake
, claiming it will increase her fertility. He adds, however, the dire warning that the mandrake will undoubtedly kill the first man to have intercourse with her. Callimaco helpfully suggests to Nicia that an unwitting fool be found for this purpose. A reluctant Lucrezia is eventually convinced by her mother and the priest to comply with her husband's wishes. She allows a disguised Callimaco into her bed and, believing that the events which caused her to break her marriage vows were due to divine providence, thereafter accepts him as her lover on a more permanent basis.
The plot and importance of the play is mentioned in the 16th Letter of Amabed in Voltaire
's Les Lettres d'Amabed (1769) stating that "the piece mocks the religion which Europe preaches, of which Rome is the centre, and the throne of which is Papal See
".
Machiavelli's play has enjoyed many contemporary revivals. The Riverside Shakespeare Company
performed The Mandrake at the Casa Italiana in New York City in 1979, starring Tom Hanks
as Callimaco in his only New York stage performance. This run was directed by Dan Southern, with an original jazz score by pianist Michael Wolff
, and Italian Renaissance sets by Gerard Bourcier.
In 1984 The Mandrake was produced at London's National Theatre
in a translation by Wallace Shawn
., after having premiered in 1977 at the Public Theatre, New York.
The Long Beach Shakespeare Company mounted a production of The Mandragola in the Spring of 2011, directed by Helen Borgers.
Musical adaptations include La Mandragola, an opera
by the composer Ignatz Waghalter
. The opera, richly melodic and deeply sympathetic in its treatment of human foibles, features a libretto
by Paul Eger and was premiered at the Deutsches Opernhaus in Berlin in January 1914. It was warmly received by the critics, and was booked for a European tour that was aborted due to the outbreak of the First World War.
"Mandragola", an opera in Serbian by composer Ivan Jevtic
was given its world premiere in Belgrade
at the Madlenianum Theatre on 16 December 2009.
Michael Alfreds and Anthony Bowles wrote a 1968 musical
adaptation, Mandrake, which has been performed in Edinburgh, London, New York, and elsewhere.
Another musical adaptation, Mandragola, composed by Doug Riley
with libretto by Alan Gordon, made its debut in Canada
over CBC Radio
in October 1977, and was later issued as an LP record on the CBC label.
In 1965 an Italian film version was made by writer/director A. Lattuada. A 2008 film
version was made, The Mandrake Root
. Adapted and directed by Malachi Bogdanov
, it was shot in HD in Sassari
, Sardinia
. Produced by European Drama Network
, it was made in English with limited Italian sections, and it remains close to the original story. It was nominated for Best Drama of 2008 by the Royal Television Society Awards Midlands
.
Niccolò Machiavelli
Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli was an Italian historian, philosopher, humanist, and writer based in Florence during the Renaissance. He is one of the main founders of modern political science. He was a diplomat, political philosopher, playwright, and a civil servant of the Florentine Republic...
. Its tale of the corruption of Italian society was written while Machiavelli was in exile
Exile
Exile means to be away from one's home , while either being explicitly refused permission to return and/or being threatened with imprisonment or death upon return...
, allegedly having plotted against the Medici
Medici
The House of Medici or Famiglia de' Medici was a political dynasty, banking family and later royal house that first began to gather prominence under Cosimo de' Medici in the Republic of Florence during the late 14th century. The family originated in the Mugello region of the Tuscan countryside,...
. The play was written between 1504 and 1518 and first performed in 1518.
The play takes place in a 24-hour period. The protagonist, Callimaco, desires to sleep with Lucrezia, the young and beautiful wife of an elderly fool, Nicia. Nicia above all else desires a son and heir, but still has none. Callimaco, conspiring with a rascally marriage broker and a priest, masquerades as a doctor. He convinces Nicia to drug Lucrezia with mandrake
Mandrake (plant)
Mandrake is the common name for members of the plant genus Mandragora, particularly the species Mandragora officinarum, belonging to the nightshades family...
, claiming it will increase her fertility. He adds, however, the dire warning that the mandrake will undoubtedly kill the first man to have intercourse with her. Callimaco helpfully suggests to Nicia that an unwitting fool be found for this purpose. A reluctant Lucrezia is eventually convinced by her mother and the priest to comply with her husband's wishes. She allows a disguised Callimaco into her bed and, believing that the events which caused her to break her marriage vows were due to divine providence, thereafter accepts him as her lover on a more permanent basis.
The plot and importance of the play is mentioned in the 16th Letter of Amabed in Voltaire
Voltaire
François-Marie Arouet , better known by the pen name Voltaire , was a French Enlightenment writer, historian and philosopher famous for his wit and for his advocacy of civil liberties, including freedom of religion, free trade and separation of church and state...
's Les Lettres d'Amabed (1769) stating that "the piece mocks the religion which Europe preaches, of which Rome is the centre, and the throne of which is Papal See
Holy See
The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, in which its Bishop is commonly known as the Pope. It is the preeminent episcopal see of the Catholic Church, forming the central government of the Church. As such, diplomatically, and in other spheres the Holy See acts and...
".
20th century revivals and adaptations
Riverside Shakespeare Company
The Riverside Shakespeare Company of New York City was founded in 1977 as a professional theatre company on the Upper West Side of New York City, by W. Stuart McDowell and Gloria Skurski...
performed The Mandrake at the Casa Italiana in New York City in 1979, starring Tom Hanks
Tom Hanks
Thomas Jeffrey "Tom" Hanks is an American actor, producer, writer, and director. Hanks worked in television and family-friendly comedies, gaining wide notice in 1988's Big, before achieving success as a dramatic actor in several notable roles, including Andrew Beckett in Philadelphia, the title...
as Callimaco in his only New York stage performance. This run was directed by Dan Southern, with an original jazz score by pianist Michael Wolff
Michael Wolff
Michael Blieden Wolff is an American jazz pianist, composer, producer, actor, and jazz educator. He was the bandleader and musical director of The Arsenio Hall Show...
, and Italian Renaissance sets by Gerard Bourcier.
In 1984 The Mandrake was produced at London's National Theatre
Royal National Theatre
The Royal National Theatre in London is one of the United Kingdom's two most prominent publicly funded theatre companies, alongside the Royal Shakespeare Company...
in a translation by Wallace Shawn
Wallace Shawn
Wallace Michael Shawn , sometimes credited as Wally Shawn, is an American stand-up comedian, actor, writer, author, voice artist, and intellectual. His best-known film roles include Wally Shawn in My Dinner with Andre , Vizzini in The Princess Bride , and debate teacher Mr...
., after having premiered in 1977 at the Public Theatre, New York.
The Long Beach Shakespeare Company mounted a production of The Mandragola in the Spring of 2011, directed by Helen Borgers.
Musical adaptations include La Mandragola, an opera
Opera
Opera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score, usually in a theatrical setting. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery, and costumes and sometimes includes dance...
by the composer Ignatz Waghalter
Ignatz Waghalter
Ignatz Waghalter was a Polish-German composer and conductor.-Early years:Waghalter was born into a poor but musically-accomplished Jewish family in Warsaw. His eldest brother, Henryk Waghalter , became a renowned cellist at the Warsaw Conservatory. Wladyslaw , the youngest Waghalter brother,...
. The opera, richly melodic and deeply sympathetic in its treatment of human foibles, features a libretto
Libretto
A libretto is the text used in an extended musical work such as an opera, operetta, masque, oratorio, cantata, or musical. The term "libretto" is also sometimes used to refer to the text of major liturgical works, such as mass, requiem, and sacred cantata, or even the story line of a...
by Paul Eger and was premiered at the Deutsches Opernhaus in Berlin in January 1914. It was warmly received by the critics, and was booked for a European tour that was aborted due to the outbreak of the First World War.
"Mandragola", an opera in Serbian by composer Ivan Jevtic
Ivan Jevtic
Ivan Jevtić is a world famous Serbian/French composer and member of the Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts...
was given its world premiere in Belgrade
Belgrade
Belgrade is the capital and largest city of Serbia. It is located at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers, where the Pannonian Plain meets the Balkans. According to official results of Census 2011, the city has a population of 1,639,121. It is one of the 15 largest cities in Europe...
at the Madlenianum Theatre on 16 December 2009.
Michael Alfreds and Anthony Bowles wrote a 1968 musical
Musical theatre
Musical theatre is a form of theatre combining songs, spoken dialogue, acting, and dance. The emotional content of the piece – humor, pathos, love, anger – as well as the story itself, is communicated through the words, music, movement and technical aspects of the entertainment as an...
adaptation, Mandrake, which has been performed in Edinburgh, London, New York, and elsewhere.
Another musical adaptation, Mandragola, composed by Doug Riley
Doug Riley
Doug Riley, CM was a Canadian musician. Born in Toronto, Ontario and informally referred to as "Doctor Music", he spent two decades with the Famous People Players as its musical director, besides his participation on over 300 album projects in various genres...
with libretto by Alan Gordon, made its debut in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
over CBC Radio
CBC Radio
CBC Radio generally refers to the English-language radio operations of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. The CBC operates a number of radio networks serving different audiences and programming niches, all of which are outlined below.-English:CBC Radio operates three English language...
in October 1977, and was later issued as an LP record on the CBC label.
In 1965 an Italian film version was made by writer/director A. Lattuada. A 2008 film
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
version was made, The Mandrake Root
The Mandrake Root
The Mandrake Root is a 2008 comedy drama film adapted and directed by Malachi Bogdanov as his first feature film. The film was produced by Simon M...
. Adapted and directed by Malachi Bogdanov
Malachi Bogdanov
Associate Director of the English Shakespeare Company Malachi Bogdanov directed international tours of productions including A Midsummer Night's Dream, A Threepenny Opera, Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet, Titus Andronicus and an award winning production of Richard the Third...
, it was shot in HD in Sassari
Sassari
Sassari is an Italian city. It is the second-largest city of Sardinia in terms of population with about 130,000 inhabitants, or about 300,000 including the greater metropolitan area...
, Sardinia
Sardinia
Sardinia is the second-largest island in the Mediterranean Sea . It is an autonomous region of Italy, and the nearest land masses are the French island of Corsica, the Italian Peninsula, Sicily, Tunisia and the Spanish Balearic Islands.The name Sardinia is from the pre-Roman noun *sard[],...
. Produced by European Drama Network
European Drama Network
European Drama Network is a producer and online distributor of modern movies of classic plays and texts. Founded by producer Simon M. Woods in 2007, it first film was The Mandrake Root, based on the play The Mandrake by Niccolò Machiavelli in 1518, and directed by Malachi Bogdanov...
, it was made in English with limited Italian sections, and it remains close to the original story. It was nominated for Best Drama of 2008 by the Royal Television Society Awards Midlands
Royal Television Society
The Royal Television Society is a British-based educational charity for the discussion, and analysis of television in all its forms, past, present and future. It is the oldest television society in the world...
.