“Accidental Death of an Anarchist”

Have you ever considered whether or not there is a role for slapstick and farce in the political arena? As individuals, we may find aspects of our country’s political figures humorous through media portrayals such as caricature and satire, however, most of us would probably agree that politics deals with serious issues. The 2012 Theatre Studies play, Accidental Death of an Anarchist by Dario Fo, deals with an historical political incident in which a suspected anarchist died after three days of interrogation by the police in Milan, Italy in 1969. The tension in the play focuses upon the real death of the prisoner and the farcical inventions of the authorities to explain it. Through the device of comedy and Fo’s skills in subverting the use of language, the playwright conveys a serious message about the nature of police corruption sanctioned by those in higher positions of authority. The portrait that Fo paints of the police is one of bumbling ineptitude, and this is enhanced by the role of the Maniac who, through the use of irony, reflects the attempted deception of the public back upon the individuals who created it. In so doing, the moral and ethical shortcomings of the Milanese police are made clear to the audience. Inspired by modern events such as the investigation of Silvio Berlusconi, the cast members embraced the styles of farce and slapstick by performing three entertaining performances for their peers, teachers, family and friends. They also delighted the audience with their rendition of Chattanooga Choo Choo, and incorporated additional content to extend the themes explored in the play. All cast members took on an additional role to their acting, such as costumes, publicity, set design, lighting and properties. Two Year 11 students from Presentation College, Windsor joined the cast, and were talented ambassadors for their school and helped to ensure the success of the performances. The cast enjoyed bringing Fo’s play to life, and are to be congratulated on their commitment to the production process. Our gratitude is extended to the college staff and administration who supported this endeavour. Ms Marg McPhee