(l to r) Eugene Ma (Constables), Liam Craig (Superintendent), Steven Epp (Maniac), and Allen Gilmore (Pissani) star in Dario Fo’s classic comedy, Accidental Death of an Anarchist, at Berkeley Rep. Photo by Joan Marcus
Accidental Death of an Anarchist: Farce. By Dario Fo. Directed by Christopher Bayes. Berkeley Rep’s Roda Theatre, 2015 Addison St., Berkeley, CA. (510) 647-2949 or www.berkeleyrep.org.
ACCIDENTAL DEATH of an ANARCHIST a hilarious must see romp at Berkeley Rep.[rating:5] (5/5 stars)
Late in the second act of Berkeley-Yale Repertory Theatres’ brilliant production of Dario Fo’s agitprop farce Accidental Death of an Anarchist, one or two of the commedia-del-arte type characters chastise the Maniac (Steven Epps) that he has overstepped the bounds with his manic additions/perversions to the script stating, “It’s not Dario Fo!” They are right but who cares that the authors have insinuated English/Americanisms into Fo’s Italian based political farce. Corruption in politics is not limited to the Italians.
Nobel Prize winner Dario Fo has taken a factual event that happened in 1969 and with the use of his superb writing skills created a play about a miscarriage of justice that is still unresolved. In December of 1969 the Italians were in the throes of a power struggle between those in power and the anarchists. When the National Agricultural Bank in Milan was bombed, the government allowed the police to round up any suspects for questioning. A lowly railroad worker was arrested and on the third day of his interrogation he fell to his death from the fourth floor window of the police station. Initially called a suicide it eventually was ruled by the Superior Court as an “accidental death.” Fo’s starting point is the reopening of the case using satirical wit and farce to present truth through humor thus keeping himself out of detention.
There could not be better casting choices for this madcap whirlwind of theatre. Steven Epp is no Stranger to the Bay Area having graced the boards at Berkeley Rep in, A Doctor in Spite of Himself, The Miser, Figaro and Juan Giovavanni. His ability and reputation as a comic performer are legendary. He is reunited with director Christopher Bayes whom he worked with at the Tony-Award winning Theatre de la Jeune. A union made in theatrical heaven.
Epp called simply Maniac, is brought to the lower level of the police station for impersonating a multitude professionals. Alas the law says a maniac cannot be held responsible for his actions. Unfortunate police officer Bertozzo (Jesse J. Perez) and unnamed Constable (Eugen Ma) are no match for the demeanor and rapid fire dialog of Epp. The laughs start early and the dialog is fortified by slapstick stage shenanigans that would make the Marx Brothers envious.
Through a series of clever visual projections the “audience” is taken by elevator (don’t ask) to the fateful fourth floor. Epp now impersonates a Superior Court Judge (amongst many other characters) and summons the Superintendent (Liam Craig) and his cohort Pissani (Allen Gilmore) to explain the discrepancy of the fateful suicide/accident that led to the anarchist going out the window.
A French farce requires a minimum of four doors but the director and cast make do with two but if you count the window that would make three. That is close enough for this play.
The set is a marvel of dishevelment and the musicians ( Aaron Halva and Travis Hendrix) on stage right are allowed to engage with the actors adding more than a modicum of interest.
Each of the male actors have individual vignettes that break the fourth wall that are too numerous to recall but bring laughter or applause from the enraptured audience that rewarded the production with a standing ovation.
Then there is Feletti (Renate Friedman) a “token female role” controlling the stage as a reporter in the last scene never playing second fiddle to her male compatriots.
Yes, this is Epp’s shining 2 hours and 15 minutes and his supporting cast work in perfect harmony even though the word harmony does not define the marvelous, hectic pace that should not to be missed evening.
FACT SHEET: ACCIDENTAL DEATH OF AN ANARCHIST WHO: Written by Dario Fo Directed by Christopher Bayes. Adapted by Gavin Richards from a translation by Gillian Hanna
CAST: Liam Craig (Superintendent), Steven Epp (Maniac), Renata Friedman (Feletti), Allen Gilmore (Pissani), Eugene Ma (Constables), and Jesse J. Perez (Bertozzo)
CREATVE TEAM: Aaron Halva (music director, composer, and musician), Travis Hendrix (musician), Kate Noll (scenic design), Elivia Bovenzi (costumes), Olivier Wason (lighting), Charles Coes (sound designer), Nathan Roberts (composer and sound designer), Michael F. Bergmann (projection designer).
Kedar K. Adour, MD
Courtesy of www.theatreworldinternetmagazine.com.
