Reviews for Plays, two

The average rating for Plays, two based on 2 reviews is 4 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2014-08-16 00:00:00 Daniel Donovan Deriving from the case of Giuseppe Pinelli, a Milanese railway employee, who in 1969 was picked up by the police, accused of a bombing, before plunging from a fourth-floor window to his death, (later he was finally absolved from any responsibility for the bombings), Italian Playwright and left-wing activist Dario Fo has turned dull political theatre into a lively Marx bothers style slap-stick farce. It plays out at a pacy dynamic speed, (reading in one go is probably wise), contains some hilarious dialogue, and in the 'Maniac' has a character I would have loved to see up on the stage, (Alfred Molina had apparently done a brilliant performance once upon a time). The play carries with it a deep underlying political message that is important to remember, even through the barrel of laughs. A sensation on it's 1970 release, the heart of the play surrounds an imposter, the maniac, running verbal circles around everyone in his path, including the woolly-headed Inspector Bertozzo and other constables and superintendents at a police HQ in Milan. By using an absurdist and satirical approach towards the issues of power, its abuse, and political stations, Fo creates sense out of nonsensical characters and situations. The maniac, a pimpernel like character, leads the others pretty much round the bend with a head spinning array of questioning, surrounding the death of an anarchist from years before. Under mysterious circumstances the anarchist had thrown himself out the window whilst under a police investigation. But foul play is suspected, and in effect we see the maniac acting in an insane manner towards the accused. He is quick witted and clever, flaunts with admirable pride, causing mayhem and confusion. You cannot help but love this crazy notion, served up with darkly comedic rewards by the end. You start to wonder just how these events effect your overall views. Your reminded of the reality of the crime, how it really took place, and yet they are forced to laugh at it and find disgust in that humor. It is this form of satire that provokes thoughts and action towards change, which is what Fo wanted. It is this subtle stealthiness of dark humor that creates the desired effect of political theatre: change, perhaps for the better, or in this case, for the playwrights cause. On A lighter note, the ever present window on the forth floor is the only realistic element to contend with, everyone else could have been plucked right out of an abundance of comic films, from The Pink Panther to Carry On. As a play, it is better seen than read obviously, but the one advantage is you haven't got to worry about the audience shuffling around or heading off to the restroom thus blocking your path. Also drinks are a rip off at the theatre. I can mix my own Cocktails at home for half the price. This play is a potent reminder that leftwing political theatre can be a rapturous joyful experience rather than a borefeast resulting in an induced coma. Thank you Mr Fo for brightening up my afternoon on this rather dreary looking day.

Review # 2 was written on 2014-12-08 00:00:00 Andrew Roketenetz Morte Accidentale di un Anarchico = Accidental Death of an Anarchist, Dario Fo Accidental Death of an Anarchist is a play by Italian playwright and Nobel Prize for Literature winner Dario Fo. Considered a classic of 20th-century theater, it has been performed across the world in more than forty countries. The play opens with Inspector Francesco Bertozzo interrogating a clever, quick-witted and mischievous fraudster, simply known as the Maniac, in Bertozzo's office on the third floor of the police headquarters in Milan. The Maniac constantly outsmarts the dim-witted Bertozzo and, when Bertozzo leaves the room, intercepts a phone call from Inspector Pissani. Pissani reveals to the Maniac that a judge is due at the police station to investigate the interrogation and "accidental" death of the anarchist, whilst the Maniac pretends to be a colleague of Bertozzo's and telling Pissani that Bertozzo is "blowing a raspberry" at him. The Maniac decides to impersonate the judge, Marco Malipiero, an opportunity he's been waiting awhile for, and to humiliate the policemen responsible for the "accidental" death. After Bertozzo reenters his office, the Maniac is forced out of the office, taking Bertozzo's coat and hat to use in his disguise. Bertozzo chases him, running into Pissani, who punches him in retaliation for "blowing a raspberry" at him. The Maniac, now impersonating Malipiero, finds Pissani and his lackey, the Constable, in the room where the anarchist was during his interrogation. Telling them that he is Malipiero, the Maniac asks for the Superintendent, who was involved with the interrogation with Pissani and the Constable. The Maniac orders the three policemen to re-enact the events of the interrogation; in turn fabricating many of the events, such as changing beating the anarchist to making jokes with him, incorporating new lines into the transcript and even breaking out in song. When the investigation reaches the matter of the fall, the Constable reveals he grabbed the anarchist's shoe, in an attempt to stop him from falling. However, the Maniac notes that witnesses reported that the anarchist had both shoes on. When Pissani surmises that the anarchist was wearing a galosh, the Superintendent breaks into a rage, making Pissani accidentally reveal that the Superintendent pushed the anarchist out of the window. The two policemen then realise that the Maniac was listening. The phone in the office suddenly rings, which Pissani answers. He tells them that it is a journalist called Maria Feletti, who the Superintendent agreed to meet to clear rumors about the interrogation, wanting to come up to the office. ... تاریخ نخستین خوانش: روز پنجم ماه جولای سال 2003 میلادی عنوان: مرگ تصادفی یک آنارشیست؛ نویسنده: داریو فو؛ مترجم: رضوان صدقی‌نژاد، گلمهر، 1381، در 191ص؛ شابک 964743801؛ موضوع نمایشنامه های نویسندگان ایتالیائی - سده 20م عنوان: مرگ تصادفی یک آنارشیست؛ نویسنده: داریو فو؛ مترجم: یدالله آقاعباسی؛ و علی اصغر مقصودی؛ تهران، نشر قطره، 1384، در 110ص؛ شابک 9643414000؛ چاپ دوم 1395؛ شابک 9789643414009؛ عنوان: مرگ تصادفی یک آنارشیست؛ نویسنده: داریو فو؛ مترجم: جمشید کاویانی، کیان افراز، چاپ دوم 1396، شابک 9786009722228؛ مرگ تصادفی یک آنارشیست، نمایشنامه ای ایتالیایی ست، که توسط «داریو فو» برنده ی جایزه ی نوبل ادبیات در سال 1970میلادی، نگاشته شده‌ است؛ این اثر یکی از آشناترین نگاره های این نویسنده است؛ «مرگ تصادفی یک آنارشیست» در زمستان سال 1392هجری خورشیدی، در سالن «سایه تئاتر شهر تهران» با کارگردانی «مصطفی عبداللهی»، به روی صحنه رفت؛ این اجرا به بهترین اثر سال، از نگاه تماشاگران، و همچنین پر فروشترین نمایش همان سال، نام گرفت؛ در آن اجرا جنابان «میکاییل شهرستانی»، «امیر عباس توفیقی»، و «مهدی زمین پرداز»، نقش آفرینی کردند؛ نمایش «مرگ تصادفی یک آنارشیست»، در سال 1395هجری خورشیدی در شیراز نیز، توسط گروه تئاتر «پویا»، به کارگردانی «نوید جعفری»، به روی صحنه رفت، و یکی از پر بیننده‌ ترین نمایش‌های سال شد؛ نمایش «مرگ تصادفی یک آنارشیست»، هجویه ای گزنده، و بسیار خنده دار، از فساد سیاسی ست، و به پرونده ی یک کارگر آنارشیست خط آهن میپردازد، که در سال 1969میلادی، از پنجره ی ساختمان مرکز فرماندهی پلیس، به پایین پرت میشود، و جانش را از دست میدهد؛ این اثر جنجال برانگیز، از نگارنده «داریو فو»، در دو سال نخستین اجراهایش، بیش از نیم میلیون بیننده را به سالنهای تئاتر کشاند، و نام نمایشنامه را به عنوان یکی از برترین آثار نمایشی دوران، مطرح کرد نقل نمونه متن: «دیوانه: فروید هم گفته که ویزیت زیاد، موثرترین درمانه. هم برای پزشک هم برای بیمار!»؛ «دیوانه: یعنی آیا اون کارگر راه آهن، یعنی اون قربانی خودکشی، سه تا پا داشت؟ در این صورت منطقیه که سه تا کفش پوشیده باشه. رئیس: (عصبانی) نخیر، سه پایی نبود! دیوانه: خواهش میکنم. عصبانی نشین. از یه آنارشیست میشه انتظار بدتر از این رو هم داشت.»؛ «دیوانه: رسوایی برای دموکراسی غربی، حکم کود شیمیایی رو داره. بذارین از اینم فراتر برم. رسوایی، پادزهری برای زهرهای مهلکه: یعنی مردم آگاهی سیاسی پیدا میکنن. اگه مردم خیلی آگاه بشن، کار ما ساخته اس.»؛ پایان نقل تاریخ بهنگام رسانی 03/05/1399هجری خورشیدی؛ ا. شربیانی