Epicentre’s current production of Dario Fo’s classic political satire ACCIDENTAL DEATH OF AN ANARCHIST, directed by Michael and Constantine Costi from a translation by Gillian Hanna, is a very entertaining night at the theatre.
Fo’s story is thoughtful, intriguing and told with plenty of humour. The original text is revised for the contemporary stage as the playwright, with plenty of foresight, welcomed translators and directors to do.
Giuseppe Pinelli was an Italian railway worker and anarchist activist, who died in the custody of Italian police in 1969 after being arrested. His death, believed by many to be at the hands of the police, is the inspiration for Dario Fo’s play.
DEATH OF AN ANARCHIST opens with Inspector Bertozzo (Jessica Leafe) and her cute but dim Constable (played with good humour by Stephen Lloyd Coombs, the strongest supporting actor) discussing the death of Pinelli, which has been officially registered as a suicide.
It’s a deceptive start. I thought that I was in for a strident but very dreary night. Not so! In walks Constantine Costi, in a dynamic performance, as The Maniac, and everything comes to comic, satirical life.
The Maniac has been brought in to the station, to be interrogated about his latest impersonation, that of a psychiatrist. He has been arrested sixteen times for impersonating various officials and has been acquitted each time because he is insane!
Costi’s Maniac is animated, eloquent, a whirlwind, expressive and super playful. He constantly outwits the inspector. Whilst in custody he intercepts a phone call which alerts him to the imminent arrival of a judge who is coming to investigate Pinelli’s falling to his death from the police station window.
The Maniac manages to impersonate the judge and conduct a review of the case with The Superintendent, played by Emily Sheeehan, the Constable, and Inspector Pissani, played by Jasper Garner Gore.
The Maniac destroys the testimony of the three police officers with Socratic expertise, and has great fun whilst doing it. He also points out that they are part of the corrupt fascist regime, supported by criminals, paramilitaries and capitalists and that the fear and distrust created by bombing campaign, blamed on the anarchists, actually suits the existing rulers.
Feletti, played by Meg Biggs, a reporter from a communist newspaper arrives, and is just as harsh on the police officers as The Maniac. However, The Maniac turns on the reporter with a scathing assessment of the communists.
Ben Wilson’s set, a 60s police station, is dominated by a large sombre picture of the Prime Minister Giulio Andreotti which provides a clever counterpoint to the farcical & humorous elements of the play. The painting at times slides away to reveal a very hot, entertaining six piece band.
The play has a clever, thoughtful ending which completes a very entertaining production, built around the central role.
The Epicentre’s revival of Dario Fo’s ACCIDENTAL DEATH OF AN ANARCHIST opened at the Zenith theatre, Chatswood on Friday 22nd June and runs until Saturday 30th June, 2012.
© Mark Pigott
23 June, 2012
Tags: Sydney Theatre Reviews- ACCIDENTAL DEATH OF AN ANARCHIST, Epicentre Theatre Company, Zenith Theatre Chatswood, Constantine and Michael Costi, Gillian Hanna, Mel Biggs, Jessica Leafe, Stephen Lloyd Coombs, Emily Sheehan, Jasper Garner Gore, Sydney Arts Guide, Mark Pigott.