Dario Fo Biography
Dario Fo, born on the 24th of March 1926, is a playwright, actor, director, stage designer, song writer and composer. Fo usually focuses on subjects such as assassination, conspicuous consumption, corruption, drug addiction, European history, power, racism, Roman Catholic theology, sexism and war. Some of his significant plays include 'The Virtuous Burglar', 'Mistero Buffo' and 'Can't Pay? Won't Pay!'. His plays have been successful, and therefore have been translated in 30 languages and performed across the world. However, he has always received criticism from many people throughout his life and plays.
Even from an early life, Fo's family are all in some part in the theatre industry, his younger brother, Fulvio was a theatre administrator, his younger sister, Bianca Fo Garambois was a writer, his mother, Pina Rota Fo wrote a book called the Land of Frogs, and his father was a station master, but also an actor in an amateur theatre company. Fo grew up in a town - Porto Valtravaglia, which was rated the highest percentage of insane people in Italy.
Fo has been on the Italian nation radio station - RAI, many times in his life, but on his first time, he was asked to perform a solo Saturday evening a comedy series - Poor Dwarf. After that, he created 18 adult fairly tale monologues which featured Shakespearean tales, with twists in the story. In 1953, Fo collaborated with Parenti and Durano to do a play called 'A Finger in the Eye', this was dealing with satirical history and the title was referred to the Italian Communist Party#s column in the newspaper. Fo was in the last performance, and it was a box-office success, that they went on tour. From this, Fo began to song write, with Fiorenzo Carpi, making their first song 'The Moonlight is a Lightbulb' Fo's most famous song.
Fo met Franca Rame, who was a daughter of a theatrical family, and got married in June 1954. Years later, they started a company called 'Compagnia Fo-Rame, where Fo acted, directed, wrote scripts and designed costumes, whereas Rame looked after the administration.
Fo and Rame received many complaints and criticism from some satirical sketches which they produced on TV. As a result, they were forced to leave in 1962, and in RAI, all Fo's recordings were deleted, the dispute led to an effective banning for Fo and Rame on Italian TV for 14 years. Fo even received threatening letters and a bomb scare which disrupted a performance by fascists groups.
Fo and Rame abandoned the official state in theatre Italy to set up 'Associazione Nuova Scene, a theatre collective operating outside the state structure. They produced plays which has masks instead of characters, some plays such as 'The Worker Know 300 Words, the Boss Knows 1000, That's Why he's the Boss' and 'Comical Mystery'. Fo had never been a part of the Communist member, so his open criticism of PCI and policies led to conflicts with the Party.
Fo and Rame opened their third theatre group with the Musician Poalol Ciarchi and the administrator Nanni Ricordi in 1970. This was an abandoned workshop, which they converted into a community centre, which they produced plays which was based on improvisation about contemporary issues. In December 1970, 'Accidental Death of an Anarchist' followed this, which was international recognised, and was described as 'a grotesque face about a tragic farce'. Fo and Rame happily toured around Italy, however in 1973, Fo was arrested, which led to an uproar which was nationwide, when it emerged that under Italian law, the police could not enter the theatre during the performance, this led to a boost in attendance in their future performances. In 1974, the theatre company had become an abandoned market building. Political enmities intervened, and the Milan council tried to remove them by court order, however the were unsuccessful, and the company was allowed to stay temporarily, where it was able to develop their facilities.
One of the farce plays - 'Can't Pay? Won'y Pay!' was one of Fo's best known plays, which was performed in 35 countries. This was because it had developed during the sever economic crisis which Italy was experiencing. The play was about how men and women would take what they would wish for the markets and pay what they can afford.
Fo concentrated his plays on a series of problems which were happening in Italy. For example, there was a increasing drug problems, therefore he produced some plays, for example 'Mother's Marijuana is the Best', 'A Women Alone' and 'Freak Mother'. In 1990, he had themes like AIDS, the Gulf Wars, genetic experiments and sex. Some of the plays include 'Hush! We're Falling', 'Seventh Commandment: Steal a Bit Less No. 2' and 'Sex? Don't Mind if I Do!'
In 1980, the United States authorities blocked Fo and Rame from performing at the Festival of Italian Theatre. In May, there was 'An Evening Without Dario Fo and Franca Rame' which was held in New York. This happened again in 1983, where the U.S. authorities did not allow they to enter, and accused them of 'belonging to organisations supporting terrorist groups'. Fo and Rame began a law suit against them and fought for this.
Fo won the Nobel Prize award in Literature in 1997. Fo was driving on a motorway, when he saw a huge placard saying that he had won the Nobel Prize, at the time he was being interviewed, so his initial reaction was caught on camera. Many people, including non-Italians were shocked by this, however different people had different and controversial views on this.
In 2005, Fo had plans to run for Mayor of Milan, 'I am not a moderate' being his motto. Unfortunately, he was unsuccessful, as a former police chief had beaten him. Fo is still an active participant and campaigner on different social, political and cultural issues. He currently owns and operates a theatre company.
Even from an early life, Fo's family are all in some part in the theatre industry, his younger brother, Fulvio was a theatre administrator, his younger sister, Bianca Fo Garambois was a writer, his mother, Pina Rota Fo wrote a book called the Land of Frogs, and his father was a station master, but also an actor in an amateur theatre company. Fo grew up in a town - Porto Valtravaglia, which was rated the highest percentage of insane people in Italy.
Fo has been on the Italian nation radio station - RAI, many times in his life, but on his first time, he was asked to perform a solo Saturday evening a comedy series - Poor Dwarf. After that, he created 18 adult fairly tale monologues which featured Shakespearean tales, with twists in the story. In 1953, Fo collaborated with Parenti and Durano to do a play called 'A Finger in the Eye', this was dealing with satirical history and the title was referred to the Italian Communist Party#s column in the newspaper. Fo was in the last performance, and it was a box-office success, that they went on tour. From this, Fo began to song write, with Fiorenzo Carpi, making their first song 'The Moonlight is a Lightbulb' Fo's most famous song.
Fo met Franca Rame, who was a daughter of a theatrical family, and got married in June 1954. Years later, they started a company called 'Compagnia Fo-Rame, where Fo acted, directed, wrote scripts and designed costumes, whereas Rame looked after the administration.
Fo and Rame received many complaints and criticism from some satirical sketches which they produced on TV. As a result, they were forced to leave in 1962, and in RAI, all Fo's recordings were deleted, the dispute led to an effective banning for Fo and Rame on Italian TV for 14 years. Fo even received threatening letters and a bomb scare which disrupted a performance by fascists groups.
Fo and Rame abandoned the official state in theatre Italy to set up 'Associazione Nuova Scene, a theatre collective operating outside the state structure. They produced plays which has masks instead of characters, some plays such as 'The Worker Know 300 Words, the Boss Knows 1000, That's Why he's the Boss' and 'Comical Mystery'. Fo had never been a part of the Communist member, so his open criticism of PCI and policies led to conflicts with the Party.
Fo and Rame opened their third theatre group with the Musician Poalol Ciarchi and the administrator Nanni Ricordi in 1970. This was an abandoned workshop, which they converted into a community centre, which they produced plays which was based on improvisation about contemporary issues. In December 1970, 'Accidental Death of an Anarchist' followed this, which was international recognised, and was described as 'a grotesque face about a tragic farce'. Fo and Rame happily toured around Italy, however in 1973, Fo was arrested, which led to an uproar which was nationwide, when it emerged that under Italian law, the police could not enter the theatre during the performance, this led to a boost in attendance in their future performances. In 1974, the theatre company had become an abandoned market building. Political enmities intervened, and the Milan council tried to remove them by court order, however the were unsuccessful, and the company was allowed to stay temporarily, where it was able to develop their facilities.
One of the farce plays - 'Can't Pay? Won'y Pay!' was one of Fo's best known plays, which was performed in 35 countries. This was because it had developed during the sever economic crisis which Italy was experiencing. The play was about how men and women would take what they would wish for the markets and pay what they can afford.
Fo concentrated his plays on a series of problems which were happening in Italy. For example, there was a increasing drug problems, therefore he produced some plays, for example 'Mother's Marijuana is the Best', 'A Women Alone' and 'Freak Mother'. In 1990, he had themes like AIDS, the Gulf Wars, genetic experiments and sex. Some of the plays include 'Hush! We're Falling', 'Seventh Commandment: Steal a Bit Less No. 2' and 'Sex? Don't Mind if I Do!'
In 1980, the United States authorities blocked Fo and Rame from performing at the Festival of Italian Theatre. In May, there was 'An Evening Without Dario Fo and Franca Rame' which was held in New York. This happened again in 1983, where the U.S. authorities did not allow they to enter, and accused them of 'belonging to organisations supporting terrorist groups'. Fo and Rame began a law suit against them and fought for this.
Fo won the Nobel Prize award in Literature in 1997. Fo was driving on a motorway, when he saw a huge placard saying that he had won the Nobel Prize, at the time he was being interviewed, so his initial reaction was caught on camera. Many people, including non-Italians were shocked by this, however different people had different and controversial views on this.
In 2005, Fo had plans to run for Mayor of Milan, 'I am not a moderate' being his motto. Unfortunately, he was unsuccessful, as a former police chief had beaten him. Fo is still an active participant and campaigner on different social, political and cultural issues. He currently owns and operates a theatre company.
Dario Fo: He realised that he could use plays to describe what was going on in that time.
FarceFarce is from the Old French meaning of 'stuff' or 'stuffing', and it originated from the comic plays from Medieval french plays. This type of comedy is light hearted and humourous. Before, this used to be an artistic production of a little merit, which uses absurd or light improbable events in the plot. The situations are funny because they are ludicrous and have an absurd nature to it.
|
FarcicalFarcical creates comedy by being ridiculous. Examples of farcical in television are John Cleese in Fawty Towers, Monty Python's Flying Circus. This type contains only physical and verbal humour, including slapstick and puns. In this, there is a lot of exaggeration for it to be more humourous to the audience.
|
SatireSatire is a genre of literature, graphic and performing arts. The point of satire if to portray how ridiculous something is, and it is to shame individuals, corporations and even society. This type of comedy is meant to be funny, but it also has irony to it. The difference between satire and farce is that farce is just meant to be funny for the audience,but satire is also meant to be funny but has a meaning and purpose to it all - to get a point across to the audience. It shows how something is wrong or foolish.
|
My Notes on the Author's Notes
- On the 12th of December 1969, there was a bomb explosion in Agricultural Bank in Milan, where 16 people died.
- Anarchists (people who didn't believe in laws/rules or the government), were instantly accused of the bombing.
- One anarchist died - Pinelli, but the police declared that he committed suicide. However, the other were sent to prison for manslaughter. Later, they found out that one of the anarchists - Giannettini was an agent for the Italian secrete police, therefore the police concluded that he was only doing this for the 'protection' of the Italian state.
- The first performance of this play was in the '80s, in Milan, which was originally in a shed of an old factory but then had transformed into a theatre. Huge amounts of people came to watch.
- They used transcripts of the investigation which were from the judges and authentic documents.
- In this play, they used farce power.
- Progressive students, workers and large numbers of the lower middle class came to watch the play. By the end, they were all mad and grotesque by the play
- The audience were laughing at the events which were meant to be funny, but then realising that they were only laughing at real life and serious events that included crime.
- So, in the end, although it was a success, it produces a violent reaction to the audience.
- The English public didn't feel that emotions that the Italians felt at that time.
- Some parts of the play had to be replaced in the English version, because they would not have got the theatrical and political significance.
- In Gavin Richard's version, some parts were left out, the parts which were important to the whole satirical piece - the foundation of it. Therefore, it was left as comical with less meaning involved. This was the main part of the whole play.
- The satire piece touched very deeply to the Italian public, because of the historical and cultural background, mainly to the working and middle class.
- Compared to other countries in Europe, Italians were the only ones who are not completely modern - they still have a lot of historical background/ roots in them. That it why they can laugh at something, but still understand the meaning behind it.
- Anarchists (people who didn't believe in laws/rules or the government), were instantly accused of the bombing.
- One anarchist died - Pinelli, but the police declared that he committed suicide. However, the other were sent to prison for manslaughter. Later, they found out that one of the anarchists - Giannettini was an agent for the Italian secrete police, therefore the police concluded that he was only doing this for the 'protection' of the Italian state.
- The first performance of this play was in the '80s, in Milan, which was originally in a shed of an old factory but then had transformed into a theatre. Huge amounts of people came to watch.
- They used transcripts of the investigation which were from the judges and authentic documents.
- In this play, they used farce power.
- Progressive students, workers and large numbers of the lower middle class came to watch the play. By the end, they were all mad and grotesque by the play
- The audience were laughing at the events which were meant to be funny, but then realising that they were only laughing at real life and serious events that included crime.
- So, in the end, although it was a success, it produces a violent reaction to the audience.
- The English public didn't feel that emotions that the Italians felt at that time.
- Some parts of the play had to be replaced in the English version, because they would not have got the theatrical and political significance.
- In Gavin Richard's version, some parts were left out, the parts which were important to the whole satirical piece - the foundation of it. Therefore, it was left as comical with less meaning involved. This was the main part of the whole play.
- The satire piece touched very deeply to the Italian public, because of the historical and cultural background, mainly to the working and middle class.
- Compared to other countries in Europe, Italians were the only ones who are not completely modern - they still have a lot of historical background/ roots in them. That it why they can laugh at something, but still understand the meaning behind it.
Stage DirectionsThe stage directions are very chaotic, because as we go through the play, we see that there are many stage directions which require the actors to move around a lot, therefore, this is a very fast paced play. I think that the reason why Fo made it quite fast paced, it because then it would be more exciting for the audience, as a lot more would be going on. Sometimes, the stage directions would be quite detailed, for example in the beginning of the play it says ' A desk littered with papers and files, telephone and card listing extensions, a bench, chairs, filing cabinet, a wastepaper bin, and a coat stand on which hang various hats and coats, The room is drab and bureaucratic; it is dominated by a large window, There are two doors. The view from the window indicates the office to be on the first floor '. I think Fo did this because he wanted it to be in a very specific way, so there wouldn't be much of a difference between each play in different theatres.
About ManiacManiac is a name which the audience, assume that the character would be stupid and idiotic. However, in this case, Maniac is crazy, but he is able to outsmart Bertozzo and the constable by fooling them into thinking he was a former Professor in a University but he is not. Maniac is a master of disguise, which is what he was convicted for - impersonating people, and therefore he was able to fool even Inspector Pissani that he was the Judge from the High Court who they were expecting. Maniac seems like a lunatic, but he knows what he is doing, and is very comical about it.
|
The PunsThere are a few puns in this scene, a very humourous one is when Maniac was going through the Italian pronouns. ' ...in Italian, pronouns beginning thus...io sonon, tu sei, loro sono, lei......Good. You too Franco, no shirking. BERTOZZO: May we...!! MANIAC: That's French... BERTOZZO: MAY WE GET ON WITH THIS FUCKING STATEMENT! ' The pun in this is that 'may we' means 'may yes', therefore this is funny because Maniac thought he was speaking in French, but Bertozzo was just speaking in English, and trying to finish off his sentence.
Farce and SatireThere are many farce speeches in this play. For example, in the beginning, when Bertozzo introduces himself to the audience, he says his full name. 'I am Inspector Francesco Giovanni Batista Giancarlo Bertozzo of the Security Police. ' This has elements of face, because in the play, he would have said it very fast, and it would have been funny, because the audience would not have completely understood his name and what he said. I don't think that there is any satire in the first scene, because this is the introduction to everything. However, there may be elements of satire when Maniac was throwing out all the files of the small people who committed small crimes. 'Pesci grossi! Diamond smugglers. drug rackerteers. You can all stay there. Where are all the little people? I know. (Closes top drawer and opens bottom drawer. Looks through.) That's more like it. Heads! (Takes an armful of files and empties them out of the window.) ' I think this has elemnts of satore in them, because it is ridiculous that he would throw all the files out of the window, but he did this because I think that he believes the 'small people' should have justice and should not be convicted and punished for the small crimes because of who they are.
|