Lysistrata: A Woman's Translation

Lysistrata: A Woman's Translation by Drue Robinson

(3)
Productions (38)
Comedy
|
75 - 120 minutes
14 W, 14 M,  (20-40 actors possible: 10-20 W, 10-20 M)
Content Notes: Adult language and situations
Set: Flexible.

Lysistrata: A Woman's Translation is the only modern adaptation of Aristophanes' classic comedy written entirely in rhyme. Lysistrata, an Athenian woman fed up with war, rallies together the women of Greece to seize the Treasury, stage a sex strike, and force the men of each warring faction to come home and sign a truce. This makes for a fast-paced and bawdy affair, including the pompous Magistrate's antics of male domination, and the celibacy-sworn Myrrhine's relentless teasing of her sex-starved, phallus-laden husband. Meanwhile, the Chorus of Old Men and Chorus of Old Women square off in a hilarious battle of wits and guts, ultimately resulting in a reunion of genders, ages, and political positions.

Pricing Information

Min. Performance Fee* $85
Standard Edition $13.99
Stage Manager Edition $24.99

*The per performance fee begins at $85. Your per performance fee will be provided during the ordering process.

Play Details

Lysistrata: A Woman's Translation is the only modern adaptation of Aristophanes' classic comedy written entirely in rhyme. Lysistrata, an Athenian woman fed up with war, rallies together the women of Greece to seize the Treasury, stage a sex strike, and force the men of each warring faction to come home and sign a truce. This makes for a fast-paced and bawdy affair, including the pompous Magistrate's antics of male domination, and the celibacy-sworn Myrrhine's relentless teasing of her sex-starved, phallus-laden husband. Meanwhile, the Chorus of Old Men and Chorus of Old Women square off in a hilarious battle of wits and guts, ultimately resulting in a reunion of genders, ages, and political positions.

  • Comedy
  • |
  • 75 - 120 minutes
  • 14 W, 14 M,  (20-40 actors possible: 10-20 W, 10-20 M)
  • Content Notes: Adult language and situations
  • Set: Flexible.
  • Standard Edition ISBN: 978-1-62384-254-3

Published Reviews

"A remarkably clever, well-crafted, hilarious adaptation of Lysistrata. Do it!"

Leslie Ayvazian, author of Nine Armenians, High Dive, and Lovely Day

"A funny, smart, and snappy version that remains completely consistent in tone and flows in a truly satisfying way. It doesn't surprise me at all that so many people around the world are working with this translation."

Ellen McLaughlin, author of Helen, The Trojan Women, and Tongue of a Bird

"For those who are not that familiar with the historical details of the Peloponnesian War, the brand-new and very modern translation by playwright Drue Robinson Hagan is very insightful. Hagan is not afraid to include in her script expressions like 'Axis of Evil' and 'Homeland Security.' Some paragraphs even seem like a direct description of the current diplomatic mess in Bush-governed America."

The Mirror (Berlin)

"But the largest local hub comes from L.A.'s small-theater community and organizers... Director [Tracy] Hudak is interlocking a multitude of scenes from Drue Robinson Hagan's translation, to be performed by a consortium of local artists and 20 different companies at the historic, 1,270-seat Wilshire Ebell Theater in an event slated to include former NEA president Jane Alexander."

Steven Leigh Morris, LA Weekly

"Your play was a smashing success and we had standing room only in a crowd of about 190!! We received a standing ovation from the audience, partly 'cause we are just damn good, but mainly due to your fine craftsmanship in that wonderful rendition of a classic."

Lookingglass Theatre (Chicago)

"'There were several other readings that were using the same script, specifically in Chicago,' said Lisa Joyce one of the three main coordinators of the Lysistrata Project in DePaul. 'It was a perfect edition, because it was so modern and hilarious. It really appeals to contemporary audiences, regardless of your political point of view.' 'A new version of the play was really great to make it more modern,' said Michelle DiBenedetto, junior international studies major. 'At the same time, it shows that all of these things are universal -- the idea and all the things behind the war are really important to keep thinking about.'"

Olivia Canlas, The DePaulia

"More than any of Aristophanes' plays, Lysistrata seems accessible -- the combination of sex farce and political satire suggest something modern and familiar. But it is very hard to carry off Aristophanes' humor without sliding into vulgarity or worse, overwrought artifice. Robinson Hagan's translation brought the play to life in a way that I had never seen before. I think she captured the spirit of the playwright as few modern translators and adapters have. It was funny and bawdy and political."

Arnold Aronson, Acting Chair, Columbia School of the Arts

"Hagan's hilarious script is almost Shakespearean in its pace. Its rhymed couplet structure kept the audience on their toes trying to guess the rapid fire punchlines."

David Cashman, Back Stage Chicago

"An enjoyable evening of zany entertainment. The ribald script, an English adaptation by Drue Robinson Hagan, was written entirely in rhyming verse, including a scene in which two characters engage in a limerick duel."

Tom Baker, The Daily Yomiuri (Japan)

"Of the dozens of translations of Aristophanes' comedy in circulation, Hag director Margaret Smith selected an interpretation by playwright Drue Robinson Hagan. The choice was an inspired one; the witty script more than does justice to the raucously bawdy original... The script was intelligent and sophisticated, with intricate rhyme schemes, guffaw-inducing risque dialogue and a thematic structure that kept intact most of the plot elements of the original."

Barbara Sullivan, Buffalo News (NY)

Production History

OCT 09, 2025 - OCT 19, 2025
Point Park University/Pittsburgh Playhouse
Pittsburgh, PA United States
Point Park University/Pittsburgh PlayhousePittsburgh, PA United States
MAR 06, 2025 - MAR 09, 2025
University of California, Berkeley
Berkeley, CA United States
University of California, BerkeleyBerkeley, CA United States
NOV 12, 2021 - NOV 14, 2021
Xavier University
Cincinnati, OH United States
Xavier UniversityCincinnati, OH United States
OCT 19, 2019 - OCT 19, 2019
N/A
Thunder Bay, ON Canada
N/AThunder Bay, ON Canada
FEB 14, 2019 - MAR 10, 2019
Vortex Inc. (dba Vortex Theatre)
Albuquerque, NM United States
Vortex Inc. (dba Vortex Theatre)Albuquerque, NM United States
JUN 06, 2018 - JUN 10, 2018
Western Washington University
Bellingham, WA United States
Western Washington UniversityBellingham, WA United States
FEB 26, 2018 - MAR 01, 2018
London School Of Economics And Political Science
London, United Kingdom
London School Of Economics And Political ScienceLondon, United Kingdom
OCT 09, 2015 - OCT 18, 2015
Wayne State University
Detroit, MI United States
Wayne State UniversityDetroit, MI United States
APR 09, 2014 - APR 17, 2014
Dept. Of Performance Studies
College Station, TX United States
Dept. Of Performance StudiesCollege Station, TX United States
JUL 27, 2013 - JUL 29, 2013
Atlantic Acting School
New York, NY United States
Atlantic Acting SchoolNew York, NY United States
1 of 4
OCT 09, 2025 - OCT 19, 2025
Point Park University/Pittsburgh Playhouse
Pittsburgh, PA United States
Point Park University/Pittsburgh PlayhousePittsburgh, PA United States
MAR 11, 2005 - APR 16, 2005
Maryland Ensemble Theatre
Frederick, MD United States
Maryland Ensemble TheatreFrederick, MD United States

Awards (1)

Script of choice for the acclaimed Lysistrata Project of 03/03/03; read by over 360 theatre groups around the world