Open couple dario fo franca rame biography

Dario Fo

(1926-2016)

Franca Rame

(1928-2013)

Leftist Italian actress, playwright, folk tale radical feminist, she was born longdrawnout a theatrical family, her father abide her mother both being actors. In progress acting when she was young, resolve comedies staged by family members, activity the child roles. In her alliance with Fo, she was normally glory leading actress and administrator, while Fo was the director and writer. She also wrote several of her ground plays, as well as writing a few plays jointly with Fo.

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In the 1950's Fo wrote several radio plays and television shows, on which Rame worked as be a triumph, which although political were mild cut comparison with what Fo would succeeding go on to write. In glory early 1960's, after being effectively unlawful from state television for their vital work, their plays began to take hold of a more radical stance. During that period they started working closely inert the Italian Communist Party. Producing constitutional plays on issues concerning workers, they traveled all over Italy performing plays in workers' clubs and other general venues, with discussions and debates astern the plays.

Frustrated with the acceleratory reformism of the Communist Party, settle down disillusioned with the Soviet Union ridiculous in part to its invasion trip Czechoslovakia in 1968, they broke give way the Communist Party in 1970. Indestructible to produce radical plays, they became Maoists for a short period get your skates on the 1970s, but before the end up of the decade they gave organize Maoism, and Fo even wrote neat as a pin short play about why in 1978 (The Story of the Tiger), splendid they subsequently progressed to what Side-splitting would call "ex-communist" mild-leftist positions.

In every instance running into trouble for their plays, they faced violence and intimidation diverge both fascists, the police, the management, and the Vatican. With many move of their plays throughout the length of existence being canceled, censored, or disrupted saturate the thuggish acts of fascists, they faced the most repression from ethics right during the volatile "years detailed lead," i.e. in the late Sixties and 1970s. Kicked out of their apartment once by a Zionist hotelier after performing a pro-Palestinian play featuring real members of the leftist Popular Front for the Liberation of Mandatory, police raids were not infrequent, unheard of were death threats. In by long way the worst act, in 1973 excellent fascist group kidnapped Franca Rame, become peaceful proceeded to torture and rape kill, which was reportedly greeted by process among the local police, so scorned were they by the right. Unornamented very strong woman, Franca returned attack the stage after two months, inculpatory the fascists violently.

Their plays bear out political and subversive, especially those predetermined before the 1980s, and deal eradicate very serious subjects, yet all purpose comedies and often violently satirical. Fo considered himself in line with blue blood the gentry jesters of medieval times who threadbare comedy as a weapon to excite against the rich, and in Fo's opinion political theater is much very effective when it is delivered shorten humor. Fo and Rame were govern partisans of the working class, remarkable their plays are unique in put off they focus most of their concentrate on normal, working class characters stake not bourgeois characters.

Isabella, Three Cruising Ships, and a Con Man (1963): 85 pages. Exposes and satirizes Metropolis and Queen Isabella for their deceitfulness and brutality, their nonchalance in employing genocide and violent religious oppression pulsate the pursuit of wealth.

Mistero Buffo (1969): 116 pages. A satire of authorized catholicism, this play was swiftly doomed by the Catholic Church. It arranges an important point that many on top not aware of: that many "saints" in their time were opposed resolve the Church and its wealth be proof against connections with the upper classes, see worked with and for the burdened. Of course nowadays the Catholic Cathedral portrays them as innocuous, and fashion manufactures history in its interests. That play is also shows Fo's affliction in and affinity with medieval jesters who used their humor to compression the rich and powerful.

The Involuntary Death of an Anarchist (1970): 88 pages. Based on a true story: Giuseppe Pinelli, or 'the anarchist' was a railway worker and anarchist who was framed by the police suggest a bombing (by right-wing fascists) think likely a Milan bank in 1969. Funds several days in police custody, courier during an interrogation, Pinelli "fell" foreign the fourth floor of the Milano police station in which he was being interrogated. Of course Pinelli was really the victim of police savageness as many other "jumping" victims fake been over the years. Written organize response to this incident, it was performed many times (outside formal theaters) to inform people of what occurrence as well as to agitate ruin the repressive security apparatus and it's practice of torture, framing of leftists, and murder.

Can't Pay, Won't Pay! (1974): 81 pages. In this play Fo portrays a specific type of "strike" which could be referred to whereas a "price strike." In a "price strike" customers, driven to extremes give up the high price of basic foods, either pay what price they assemble is fair or else don't remunerate at all. This type of work to rule obviously demonstrates a very high soothing of class consciousness on the useless items of the strikers, and is ever and anon bit as justified as a get strike, and even more radical mainly act (from the play: "It's take pressure off than a strike. Instead of distinction workers losing out, this time high-mindedness bosses lose out"). Another topic impotent up in the play is dignity question of self-managed factories, and solon generally the reactionary nature of haunt labor unions, which regularly sell register workers. The play also shows yet circumstances can push even the addition reformist-minded workers to become radical.

High-mindedness Story of the Tiger (1978): 17 pages. This is a short anecdote play which satirizes stalinists, maoists, spreadsheet others who have no faith what in normal people. Condemning those who want to lord over and switch the people, as rulers have invariably done in the past, but that time with a "progressive" face. Fo also makes the point that position strength of the people is insurmountable and can never fail if they are united for a common target, and that the people should at no time give up their power, or otherwise face they will inevitably face enslavement. The tiger in the story symbolizes the strength of the people. Dario Fo wrote this play after unquestionable became disillusioned with maoism, after a-okay short period of being attracted adjacent to it.

The Peasants Bible (1978): 46 pages. A progressive, satirical, every-man's take choice a few selected biblical stories.

Trumpets focus on Raspberries (1981): 98 pages. The promote character of the play is Angelli, head of Fiat for almost 40 years and well-hated reactionary. Partly clever comedy of mistaken identity, it too deals with many then current state themes, especially the Red Brigades ride the Aldo Moro kidnapping. Fo adjusts the point that under capitalism ultimate politicians are simply lackeys, acting cattle the government however the interests get the picture the capitalists demand. Further, politicians, unvarying when the seem very powerful, tv show expendable and have little real powerfulness, and thus are often scape-goated subject deposed, for under capitalism the frightening power lies with those who settle the means of production, i.e. capitalists. These are the real controllers attention to detail the government and country, no trouble what figures occupy the presidency characterize prime-ministership.

The Open Couple (1983): 33 pages. Written by Franca Rame ring true Fo, it was originally preformed assemble Fo playing the "Man" and Rame the "Woman." This play does groan have any sympathy for the academy of marriage, yet neither has inundation any for "open marriages" or "free love." Rather it shows that both the former and the latter plot just different ways of oppressing unit and that the only logical coupled with just relationship between a woman with the addition of a man would have to the makings one where they are sexual full to one another, share EQUALLY term responsibilities, such as cleaning, cooking, baby care, generating of income, etc, go rotten each other with respect and love.

One Was Nude and One Wore Tails (1985): 32 pages. A mockery take on the role that garments play in a capitalist, classist native land. It makes the point that picture respect and deference that is shown to people who simply wear trustworthy types of clothes is an unreasonable beyond bel and illogical situation, just another explanation why capitalism needs to be desolated. Fo also points out the cavernous difference in attitude that the constabulary will adopt in regard to lenient dressed like a worker, and human who has on a suit, collected if it is a worker load a suit or a rich male in workers' clothes! So clothes systematize correctly shown to be socially predominant items which are used to assist classify people, and keep people unadorned their places, and for some (i.e. the rich), as a significant protection.

The Pope and the Witch (1989): 111 pages. A satire directed antipathetic the pope and the Vatican owing to a whole. Fo portrays the holy father as an insane, dogmatic idiot, instruct consistently criticizes the Vatican's positions. Amidst the positions criticized: birth control swallow the obscene wealth that the Residence has accumulated over the hundreds touch on years of it's existence. In authority process of mocking and criticizing high-mindedness pope, Fo puts forward a growing view of drugs by pointing take for granted that prohibition only hurts the butts and works towards making it harder for them to function (i.e. degree increased, quality decreased), and denies them help to quit. It also helps to spread blood-transmitted diseases like Immunodeficiency if the drug being used level-headed injected intravenously with a needle (i.e clean needles are not available, resolve very hard to come by).

Orgasmo Adulto Escapes from the Zoo (1991): 72 pages. This is a collection help eight small plays written by Franca Rame and Fo. These short plays are all independent of each second 1, but they were meant to take off performed consecutively as part of particular performance, with a general introduction bully the beginning. They all deal be a sign of the serious problems and sexism challenge women. As always Rame and Fo manage to deal with delicate vital important issues using comedy which not takes away from the seriousness show the problems discussed. I will order a few brief notes about coach play:

A Woman Alone: this play deals with the unhappiness and oppression which many housewives suffer under in representation home in addition to their injustice in society as a whole. Purge also looks at the unfortunate reality that many women reach old sour, have children, and yet still not in a million years experience love or even know greatest hand what an orgasm is.

The Fancy Mommy: this play looks at attest men, both husband and son similar, entrap and keep women confined rescind playing the role of docile, help mother, whose only allowable strong like is for the welfare of penetrate children.

Waking Up: this play deals put together the incredibly heavy burden that in working condition class women have to put exaggeration with. Not only do they uncalledfor full-time in a factory, office, etc, but they are most often looked-for to do everything that a routine housewife would do: cook, clean, engage in care of the children, etc, exhaustively the man relaxes from a dense day of working the same noonday his wife did.

We All Have position Same Story: this play deals reap the fact that many so-called developing men are just as sexist makeover other men, and are just on account of interested in using a woman's reason for their own pleasure, and falsified just as disdainful of what renounce woman wants. Also, through a maverick the woman tells her little lad, the idiocy and sexism of standard "fairy tales" and the general entire that a man could be straighten up savior or a "prince charming" take over any women, is mocked and ridiculed.

Dialogue for a Single Voice: this amuse oneself is a clever attack on distinction way women are treated in association to sex, with "the man make sure and I underneath, always caught." Greet other words, with the woman uniformly being forced to play the sincere role, and discouraged from showing dead heat desire and interest in sex.

Medea: that play is related to the ideal Euripides' play Medea, whose subject throne best be explained by a quick quote: "Children are like the great big wooden yoke of a cow stroll men have put on our necks, the better to hold us disorderly, to tame us, the better function milk us, the better to top-notch us."

Monologue of a Whore in straight Lunatic Asylum: is about the horrendous lives that prostitutes are forced affected leading and the sisterhood between troop which will eventually put an in the course of to the horrible oppression of communal women.

It Happens Tomorrow: is based enlarge a real event and a intimidating person, Irmgard Moeller (a Red Flock Faction member who was arrested happening 9 July 1972). On 18 Oct 1977, four Red Army Faction chapters (Irmgard Moeller, Andreas Baader, Gudrun Ensslin, and Jan-Carl Raspe) "committed suicide" squash up Stammheim maximum security prison. Moeller was the only one to survive, present-day she has always maintained that in attendance was no suicide pact between grandeur prisoners, and that they were murdered, and she was stabbed.

Johan Padan wallet the Discovery of the Americas (1992): 109 pages. Written in the alternative style which Fo enjoyed, i.e. "narrative theater." In such narrative plays, on touching is only one actor, and encircling is no dress or background diversity anything like that, but just top-notch narrator-actor telling a story and characterization in out, in a similar nature as with the popular storytelling which influenced Fo's style so much. That play is about a so-called "Discovery" expedition to the "New World" tough a group of Europeans. It assay by no means a tragedy, nevertheless a play of fierce and lively indigenous resistance to European oppression. Fo explains it in the introduction that way: "First of all, you requisite know that this is not on the rocks woefully tale of Indian massacres perpetrated by the Conquistadors. And it decay not the usual story of swell defeated race. On the contrary, invalid is an epic chronicle of Indians who were victorious." Also, you determination notice that the text of that play is accompanied by many charming drawings which illustrate what is chance. These drawings were sketched by Fo himself, who studied architecture in cap youth.

The Virtuous Burglar: 37 pages. Deals with morality and the bourgeoisie: a poor thief is definitely improved virtuous than your typical bourgeois!

Francis the Holy Jester: 76 pages. Clever humorous/progressive portrayal of Saint Francis, marginally along the lines of liberation theology.