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What do you think of this modern Italian playwright, who mixes political themes with irony and farce?
I've read the two Methuen collections of his plays and enjoyed them, although I found the first volume stronger.
Mistero Buffo, Accidental Death of an Anarchist, Trumpets and Raspberries, Can't Pay? Won't Pay! Elizabeth: Almost by Chance a Woman. Anyone read any of these?
"We Won't Pay, We Won't Pay" is a fantastic play in my opinion. In regards to actual writing quality, perhaps it isn't the greatest play around. However, drama should be conducted with performance in mind, and in that sense Fo surpasses many of his contemporaries. His ironies and contradictions translate very well, and through his humor many of his ideals are effectively conveyed. I would totally suggest that everyone read something by Fo.
We Won't Pay, We Won't Pay (also known as Can't Pay? Won't Pay!) is one of my favourites. I love the way he uses a serious social matter - the rise of goods - to create a farce about a couple's marital problems. With Fo you get things in equal measure: social criticism, literature and entertainment.
Aside from the content itself, the pacing of Fo's dialogue is on point! Fo is vastly underrated in the academic world, well particularly in the literature departments.
I have read Accidental Death..
It was really good-the way he used the people's tradition along with the current issues and how he wanted the third act unscripted..really cool