Machiavelli’s Political ‘Prince’ Is Another Man’s Playful Twist

A simple secretary, a recorder of details, falls into the court of the tyrannical Cesare Borgia. It is the beginning of an education in politics and power that will lead to unimagined infamy for Niccolo Machiavelli, in Robert Cohen’s “The Prince.”

Yevgenia Nayberg designed a creepy dungeon-like set complete with rag-doll corpses for this well-acted, surprisingly lighthearted Cal Rep production.

Machiavelli (Peter Zapp) arrives at Borgia’s court as an emissary of the city-state of Florence. A gruff Cesare (Ronald Allan-Lindblom), the prince, introduces him to his former secretary, who hangs mutilated in Cesare’s palace. Resistant at first, Machiavelli is slowly seduced by Cesare’s opiate of fear and terror.

When his hopes of a high position in Borgia’s court end with the prince’s death, Machiavelli writes a political treatise in hopes of gaining favor with the new power brokers, the De Medici. In the end, Machiavelli’s book, “The Prince,” becomes an underground bestseller, but he is ostracized, banished from the halls of power. His only comfort comes from his long-suffering wife Marietta (Linda Van Dine).

Cohen has created a perversely funny morality play in which love and democracy triumph over brute force and political manipulations. History and torture aren’t taken too seriously, making the former less musty and the latter less gruesome.

Director Ashley Carr Jr. gives Cohen’s work a modern feeling. A very swishy Leonardo DaVinci (Michael A. Pando) cattily complains about his unseen rival Michelangelo. Zapp’s Machiavelli is a nervous note taker, a keen observer who is overwhelmed by Allan-Lindblom’s raging, syphilitic brute and enchanted by the sultry, but steely Jennifer Fowler as Dorotea, Cesare’s mistress.

Carin Jacobs’ beautifully detailed costumes create a stark contrast to the gloomy set.

BE THERE

“The Prince,” Cal Rep Theatre, southeast corner of Cal State Long Beach. Wednesdays, 6 p.m.; Thursdays-Saturdays, 8 p.m.; also Saturday, 2 p.m. Ends Nov. 22. $15. (310) 985-7000. Running time: 2 hours, 25 minutes.