By Imogène Taveau, Year 12
I must admit I was a little apprehensive at first at how a group of students could tackle the political complexity and intensity of Dario Fo’s chef-d’œuvre.
For a student production, however, they did a fantastic job. It was laugh-out-loud funny, and they managed to make it easily accessible to a younger audience as well as those unfamiliar with the play and its context. For those who have read and studied the play, the loaded political references that give the play its depth and profound elegance seemed almost skimmed over, although the showing of the faces of those who were victims of police brutality on a screen at the end was a moving addition to the performance.
Following 5 main characters (the Maniac(s), Inspector Bertozzo, the Superintendent, the Inspector and the Journalist) as well as two constables, the play is set shortly after the death of Giuseppe Pinelli, an Italian Anarchist in the 70s who died mysteriously while in police custody following a bombing that police claimed to be linked to his anarchist group. The Maniac(s) brings light to the political corruption in the government and in the law enforcement in 70s Italy, with each character representing one of the issues in that society.
Originally there is only one role of the Maniac, however this production split the roles in two. Often splitting a role can be disastrous, however the two actors did a splendidly successful job. Their movements were flawlessly synced, and they worked with each other beautifully, everything fluid and seemingly effortless.
Overall, I tip my hat to these young actors; they had to deal with an incredibly challenging play and they pulled it off extremely well.
