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CORVALLIS - Oregon State University will present Machiavelli's classic comedy, "La Mandragola" (The Mandrake), during a seven-performance run that begins on Jan. 27.

Performances are scheduled for Jan. 27-29 and Feb. 3-5 beginning at 7:30 p.m. in the Withycombe Hall Lab Theater. A matinee performance will be held on Sunday, Feb. 6, beginning at 2 p.m. in the theater.

Though it was written nearly 500 years ago, the play is "as funny and relevant today as it was during the Italian Renaissance," said director Charlotte Headrick. She and the cast have used improvisations to develop the script from a new translation by Eric Hill, commissioned for the production.

"La Mandragola" follows the plight of Callimacho, who has fallen madly in love with Lucrezia. But she is married to doddering old Nicia, who desperately wants an heir. Spotting Nicia's gullibility, wheeler-dealer Ligurio convinces him that Dr. Callimacho has a secret formula made from the mandrake root guaranteed to boost Lucrezia's fertility.

And, in pure Machiavellian form, chaos ensues and the end justifies the means.

The cast includes Paul Pistey (Ligurio), Mike Bedney (Nicia), Holly Marquardt (Lucrezia), David Fox (Callimacho), Kendra Thysell (Siro), Gieselle Blair (Sostrata), and Ryan Hodges (Brother Timoteo). Arin Dooley and Amy Edwards are narrators.

Chris Wilson is the stage manager; Kim Decker, costume designer; George Caldwell, scene and lighting designer.

This will be the first production done on the lab's new "Shakespeare Stage," designed by associate professor emeritus Richard George and constructed by Michael Sugihara.

Box office hours are Wednesday through Friday from noon to 5 p.m. during the two weeks of the production. For more information, call the box office at 541-737-2784. The play contains subject matter and language that some patrons may find objectionable.