Gary Graves Shows How Machiavelli Fits US Now

by Aaron Draper

Director, teacher, and playwright Gary Graves has produced 80 original plays over 36 years. Many were written by his collaborators and students, and many have been his own plays—winning many awards. Now Central Works is doing its last plays in elegant style.

In “The Prince, Part 1,” playwright/director Graves makes stinging parallels between Machiavelli’s Italian Renaissance manipulations and our current cruel regime in D.C.

Graves introduces Niccolo Machiavelli (Kevin Singer) as he is learning harsh truths about governing a tottering republic. The vengeful Catholic Brother Jerome Savonarola (Mark Farrell) and the ruthless, absolute ruler Duke Cesare Borgia (Brennan Pickman-Thoon) extract information from Machiavelli who is still figuring out how politics works.

All three actors perform with conviction, energy and skill, as playwright Graves fills the City Club’s small Victorian parlor with beautifully crafted language. The actors artfully circle us, just inches away. Skillfully choreographed, “The Prince” unfolds over two hours and forty minutes with two intermissions for much-needed stretches.

As Machiavelli, Singer delivers with intelligence and wit. Singer skillfully shifts between confidence and uncertainty, aggression and diplomacy, as he adapts to the dangerous politics, feeling for the levers of ultimate power. His Machiavelli wears a suit, time-traveling to Renaissance Florence. He takes us into his confidence, only inches away.

Farrell’s Savonarola, the mad monk, appoints himself as Florence’s moral authority. The vengeful cleric enters hooded, concealing his expressive face. His brutal vision rises from a vengeful stream of hypocrisy, lies, and threats, familiar to us now.

As the cruel, medieval Duke, Pickman-Thoon embodies Borgia’s intimidating physical presence and relentless desire for prominence. He creates a chilling presence, the essence of narcissistic power. He toys with Machiavelli, forcing him to dress as a prostitute, revealing Borgia’s dominance and cruelty. Pickman-Thoon makes the inhumane ruler familiar and chilling.

We learn that Savonarola has ignored his own excommunication from Florence, denying the Pope’s authority—a dangerous game. A “trial by fire” is offered as a “test” to prove his righteousness.

Machiavelli argues that Florence longs for liberty as a republic, while Savonarola condemns the desire for freedom as “moral corruption.” We immediately grasp the parallel with the politics of today: our struggle for personal freedoms is being suppressed by the privileged Musk/Epstein class and their minions.

As the ambitious and terrifying Duke, Pickman-Thoon reaches thrilling, intimidating heights. His Borgia dominates with wild boasting about war and dastardly, inhumane tortures. Pickman-Thoon plays Duke Cesare Borgia as a dominant, shirtless torturer in flashy black leather pants, who threatens Machiavelli with two sinister, armored metal fingers. He lives by lascivious secrets and self-indulgence, a cruel tyrant.

With the blood-curdling tortures unfolding offstage, Graves’ play struggles to dramatize the shocking events. Battles, executions, betrayals, and assassinations are narrated rather than witnessed.

Gary Graves deserves accolades for tackling complex history and transforming Machiavelli’s world into theater for our time. The philosopher’s intelligent and beautiful speeches illuminate deadly follies, past and present.

“The Prince, Part 1” prompts us to use our imagination to fill in the terrors of history unfolding in front of us. “Part 2” continues the thrills and threats next week at Central Works.

 

“The Prince, Part 1: the life and times of Niccolo Machiavelli” –written & directed by Gary Graves, costumes by Tammy Berlin, lighting by Gary Graves, sound by Gregory Scharpen, producing director Jan Zvaifler, by Central Works, at Berkeley City Club, 2315 Durant Avenue, Berkeley 94704.

Info: centralworks.org – to September 6, 2026.

Cast: Kevin Singer, Mark Farrell, and Brennan Pickman-Thoon.

Banner photo: Kevin Singer (Machiavelli) & Brennan Pickman-Thoon (Cesare Borgia). Photos by Robbie Sweeny