STAGE

Politics and sex are finding new life in satirical shows that mock Greek Premier Andreas Papandreou and his relationship with a former flight attendant. Greeks are packing Athens’ theaters to laugh at satires of the 69-year-old socialist premier, who is carrying on a public relationship with 34-year-old Dimitra Liani while his governing Panhellenic Socialist Movement is besieged by financial scandals. Six political revues have been playing over the holidays, and, according to box-office figures, the shows are grossing up to $37,500 a week, twice as much as the most successful drama in Athens. Papandreou’s heart operation in London last September inspired the title of a popular revue, “Post-Aorta Greece,” written and directed by Lakis Lazopoulos, Greece’s top satirist. Lazopoulos asks innocently at each show: “If a newcomer to Athens saw Andreas and Dimitra walking and holding hands, what would he think?” “That there’s a nice girl helping an old man cross the street,” comes the answer.