Trading in Greek chitons for bell bottom jeans, tie dye and a graffiti-covered lovebus, UMass Dartmouth’s 20 Cent Fiction brought “Lysistrata” into the 20th century with a ‘60s-inspired overhaul.

20 Cent Fiction performed this adaptation of the comedy by Aristophanes on Saturday, Dec. 12 and Sunday Dec. 13.

The play follows flower child Lysistrata, played by Lisa Bontemps, 19, through her mission to end the Vietnam War by rallying women to withhold sex from their husbands and boyfriends to prompt peace negotiations. Sick of President Nixon being “the only Dick since the draft,” with the help of her friend Calonice, liberated women across the U.S., and “that devil weed,” they vow to bring the war to an end. However, as the months begin to drag on, Lysistrata and her followers find it to be harder than they anticipated, especially when soldiers involved in peace talks become “more than willing to stand at attention,” said director Emma Givney, 21.

The play has seen many modernized reboots because the themes of sexism, racism, violence and anti-war sentiment are still relevant today, making it an appropriate choice, said Giveny.

“Gender tensions, police brutality and distaste for war is the staple of the 2000s as much as it was for those in the 1960s,” Giveny said.

“Set in ancient Greece or 1960s America, sexism and war still affect us all the time and I really think it’s really important to get that message out in the public eye…” said Alyssa Steen, who played Lampito the Bostonian.

Though the dialogue in the play was modified to reflect period-appropriate vernacular, Giveny worked to keep the script as true to the original as possible, sex jokes and all. The gratuitous addition of vulgarities was just a bonus.

“It’s college, why not,” Giveny said.

“The script is hilarious,” Bontemps added.

More women auditioned for parts than men, so several parts intended for males were cast with women - the direct opposite of what was typical of ancient Greek performances where men played female and male roles.

“I learned how to do a lot of drag makeup,” said Lauren Medeiros, 20, who played the police chief.

20 Cent Fiction, described Giveny as “theater with a shot of vodka,” is a student-run theater group that has been operating for 22 years. They typically do plays and performances that appeal more to alternative, off-beat tastes. Their annual fall production of “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” is a classic.

“Being a part of 20 Cent is like being a part of a family because everybody here, we’re all working toward the same thing and it’s a lot of fun,” Medeiros said. “We all know each other very well by the end of the semester.”