Theatre@First Presents LYSISTRATA, Opening 3/14

Theatre@First presents Aristophanes' classic anti-war comedy, Lysistrata at Unity, Somerville on March 14th-16th and 21st-23rd with a Pay What You Want performance on opening night.

First performed in 411 BCE, Lysistrata is the best-known work of Aristophanes, Ancient Greece's premiere comic playwright. This bawdy and raucous battle of the sexes tells of one woman's struggle to end war-by convincing the women of Greece not to have sex with the men until peace is declared. Amid the laughs, the power of one voice to change the world rings out with a message that still resonates today.

Director John Deschene takes the helm of Lysistrata after amazing audiences with his performances in Pride & Prejudice and Bent. He has previously directed with the MIT Gilbert & Sullivan Players and Mass Theatrica. The talented cast features audience favorite Leslie Drescher (Pride & Prejudice, As You Like It) in the title role, supported by a cast of familiar faces (Brian Edgar, Jenny Gutbezahl) and rising stars (Andrea Aptecker, Lou Fuoco). Lysistrata's most famous scene of sexual frustration is presented with great feeling by newcomer Kria Sarakeeny and Jared Hite, who charmed Theatre@First audiences as Bingley in 2012's Pride & Prejudice. Choreography by Alex Nemiroski adds striking visual commentary to the show's verbal wit.

In this production Theatre@First throws out the masks and choruses of Greek tradition to focus on the power of the average citizen. The timeless story takes on modern dress to highlight the changeless drives of human nature. With inspired speech and uncontrollable desire, Lysistrata amuses, delights and inspires.

This play contains adult themes and may be inappropriate for children.

Theatre@First is Somerville's largest community theatre, bringing affordable and superlative theatre to Somerville since its founding as an all-volunteer organization in 2003.