If we are indulging in Fo' s memories, I have
something special to reminisce about, probably too dated for most of
you.
Fo' was the main drive behind two very popular
shows in the late forties, one called "il dito nell'occhio", I do not remember
the title of the second. They were original, iconoclast,
excellent. In those christian-democratic days iconoclast meant
anti-establishment, filo-comunist, if you like. They were great precursors
of "Beyond the Fringe", although I am sure they did not know of each
other. Those were the purely humoristic days of Fo'; politics entered
in his work in an ironic, cynical, piercing and very effective way. He
also wrote songs, in milanese style (not necessarily dialect), for a show called
"22 songs" with Enzo Iannacci, a chansonnier rather famous in the late
fifties.
The "theatre" proper came later after, I believe,
his marriage to Franca who, maybe, has a more radical and committed political
credo; surprising, given her early years. I know little about
tha period, as I had already left Italy by then.
sergio viggiani
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Tuesday, November 14, 2000 2:18
PM
Subject: RE: Liz Heron
Actually, I too saw a production of Accidental
Death...on Broadway about 10-15 years ago. I must say, the acting was
wonderful but I was lost, rather, I got lost somewhere along the way.
Unfortunately, Fo' was denied entrance into the US by the
State Department--or rather the state department--because of his
communist "leanings?": Ma, che cosa vuol dire communist leanings? There
were protests and a big to-do but to no avail--he was not "allowed
into" the country. It was the only Fo' I've ever seen and in reading him in
Italian I still feel I am missing much. I suppose it should be a total
theatrical, vis a vis visual, audio, emotional and mental experience. Or maybe
I'm just too dumb to get it!!
Robert Colasacco
I do not know how you translate Fo'
efectively. Two of his plays, however, had a tremendous success in the
West End 10-15 years ago: Accidental death of an anarchist and Can't
pay, Won't pay!. People rawed about them. I only saw the second,
when it had gone into repertoire, with the 12th cast, I suppose. It
came out as a flat pancake.
Sergio
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Monday, November 13, 2000 4:37
PM
Subject: RE: Liz Heron
Which makes me ask, How DOES one translate Dario
Fo!!! Much really must be lost in these translations.
Robert Colasacco
Dear Paul Barnaby,
(with apologies for sending this to everybody - I am having
difficulty with Paul's e-mail address)
I do not have an address for Liz Heron
but think you would be able to contact her through The Open University,
Walton Hall, Milton Keynes, MK7 6AA 653139. Liz Heron has fairly
recently translated some passages of Dario Fo for my unit for the Open
University - that is how I know of the connection. The person to speak
to is Adrian Roberts, Course Manager for AA304. his direct line is 01908
652974 and his e-mail address is:
I hope this of help.
Best wishes,
Jennifer
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