Equally Divine: The Real Story of the Mona Lisa

by Jenny Lyn Bader

Told from the point of view of the world’s most famous painting, this true-crime whodunit begins with the 1911 theft of the Mona Lisa from the Louvre Museum. Police question everyone from Picasso to J.P Morgan but can't crack the case. Meanwhile the painting herself plots her escape — and along the way, tells us about the visionary artist Leonardo da Vinci, the apprentice who would become his lover, and the...

Told from the point of view of the world’s most famous painting, this true-crime whodunit begins with the 1911 theft of the Mona Lisa from the Louvre Museum. Police question everyone from Picasso to J.P Morgan but can't crack the case. Meanwhile the painting herself plots her escape — and along the way, tells us about the visionary artist Leonardo da Vinci, the apprentice who would become his lover, and the secrets behind the masterpiece. The portrait solves mysteries that have baffled fans and stumped scholars for centuries: Why Leonardo never delivered the painting to the man who commissioned it. Who she is. And why she’s smiling. Equally Divine is a time-hopping, gender-bending drama about art, inspiration, and becoming who we are.

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Equally Divine: The Real Story of the Mona Lisa

Recommended by

  • Ellen Abrams: Equally Divine: The Real Story of the Mona Lisa

    An inspired look at the life of Mona Lisa, woman and painting. Very clever, and beautifully written.

    An inspired look at the life of Mona Lisa, woman and painting. Very clever, and beautifully written.

Character Information

NB This is a solo play about a woman but given its gender-bending story with the right casting it would be interesting to have the woman play the role one night and a man the next.
  • Lisa
    The Mona Lisa, the world’s most famous painting, come to life. She is 405 years old but very well-preserved and relatively youthful looking. She also plays a host of other characters from her life.
    Character Age
    20's but also 400's
    Character Gender Identity
    Female-identifying

Development History

  • Type Reading, Organization New York Society Library, Year 2018

Production History

  • Type Professional, Organization Theatre at the 14th St. Y, Year 2020
  • Type Professional, Organization United Solo Festival, Year 2019

Awards

  • "Best Documentary One-Woman Show"
    United Solo
    Winner
    2019