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sidharthvardhan's review against another edition
5.0
The play is based on the real life event - the death of an anarchist, Giuseppe Pinelli (never named in play) who committed suicide by jumping, or fell or was thrown from a police station's window after being accused of bombing a bank. He was later cleared of the charge.
The imagined events of Fo's play occur sometime after that. The protagonist, simply called Maniac is one of the funniest characters in all plays I have read - he is a bit like Jack Sparrow, in that until the end there is no way to know whose side he is on or even if he has a real take on the issue. He repeatedly fakes identities and outsmarts police officers - a job made easy by their corruption and hypocrisy. The big final revelation is that the anarchist was a victim of Italian government who was pursuing something called Strategy of Tension.
The play faced a lot of challenged within Italy including threats of bombing the theater but it didn't affect its popularity. There is a moment when a police officer says that they have spies in audience itself and some voices are heard from among viewers - while this two-way fourth wall breaking is clever in itself, what the officer adds - that they are only fake spies and actual ones are stil sitting silently, might be pointing to the truth given the times it was first performed.
The theme is something universal. In fact, all the time I was reading I was thinking that it might have been written for India or anywhere where people enjoy a good satire (technically it is a farce, not satire) on corrupt government officials - and it has been performed here after making changes to make settings Indian. What's more, India is only one of 40+ other countries where it has been performed
The imagined events of Fo's play occur sometime after that. The protagonist, simply called Maniac is one of the funniest characters in all plays I have read - he is a bit like Jack Sparrow, in that until the end there is no way to know whose side he is on or even if he has a real take on the issue. He repeatedly fakes identities and outsmarts police officers - a job made easy by their corruption and hypocrisy. The big final revelation is that the anarchist was a victim of Italian government who was pursuing something called Strategy of Tension.
The play faced a lot of challenged within Italy including threats of bombing the theater but it didn't affect its popularity. There is a moment when a police officer says that they have spies in audience itself and some voices are heard from among viewers - while this two-way fourth wall breaking is clever in itself, what the officer adds - that they are only fake spies and actual ones are stil sitting silently, might be pointing to the truth given the times it was first performed.
The theme is something universal. In fact, all the time I was reading I was thinking that it might have been written for India or anywhere where people enjoy a good satire (technically it is a farce, not satire) on corrupt government officials - and it has been performed here after making changes to make settings Indian. What's more, India is only one of 40+ other countries where it has been performed
emilia_lodge's review against another edition
4.5
My kinda play. Love meta stuff. Read modern adaptation version. Would love to play the Maniac
avidwhale's review against another edition
4.0
done and dusted pretty funny enjoyed very much high recommended for hl english ib oral candidates
+ i can’t imagine having to memorize these lines
+ i can’t imagine having to memorize these lines
erintmckay1216's review against another edition
challenging
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
readingatnight's review
challenging
funny
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
leka_1612's review
funny
informative
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
richy_qu33r_readzz's review
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Witty political commentary
swiftiesophie's review
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
i actually love this play but a level drama makes me hate it