A new Indianapolis theater company has offered hilarious, thought-provoking commentary about current conflicts by updating a bawdy, anti-war comedy from ancient Greece.

This weekend, the Sapphire Theatre Company unveiled its sex-charged take on Aristophanes' "Lysistrata." Years into the Peloponnesian War between Athens and Sparta, the wily Athenian title character talks war-weary women on both sides of the conflict into staging a sex strike until their husbands agree to peace.

"Lysistrata" is about 2,500 years old, but the play's gutsy Greek pacificists keep coming back, especially in times of conflict. The script first caught my attention in the waning days of the Vietnam War, and now, this rendition has cropped up during the Iraqi conflict. Through it all, "Lysistratra" continues to offer wisdom and sarcastic commentary about the impact of war.

With sex being central to the play, "Lysistratra" has always left itself open to graphic interpretation, especially in dialog and design.

Sapphire artistic director Bonnie Mill's direction of her co-adaptation with David Orr is quite explicit. Characters have suggestive names such as Erectus, women describe sexual positions in detail and sex-starved soldiers protrude. If such things offend, don't go, and the company has been candid about advising parental discretion for those 17 and younger.

Potential theatergoers also should be aware of another directorial choice: there is no intermission for this nearly two-hour show. It got to be a bit much, but maybe the point was to symbolize how long the characters were waiting for war to end.

Sapphire's "Lysistrata" takes an ensemble approach, featuring nearly all members of a large cast.

Nan Macy plays the title role with a demeanor that is by turns aggressive, persuasive and campy. Karen Irwin's butch portrayal of Xena seems influenced by a certain TV warrior princess. Lucinda Phillips (called Cindy in recent shows including "Mid-Life! The Crisis Musical") puts a seductive twist on Kleonike.

Men in the cast seem stereotypically wimpy, including the Athenian senator (Jeff Keel, clad in suitcoat, tie and skirt); the Spartan general (a rugged-looking Brad Potts) and soldiers including the amusingly obsessed Kinesias (Michael Hosp).

'Lysistrata'

What: A comedy by Aristophanes, adapted by David Orr and Bonnie Mill.

When: Through Nov. 15.

Where: Circle Centre Mall, 4th floor. For more details, call (317) 966-7529 or go to www.sapphiretheatre.com.

Bottom line: A graphic, contemporary update of an anti-war comedy.