Don’t be confused by the title of the Torch Theatre Company’s latest production which opens next month. Dario Fo’s comic masterpiece, Accidental Death of an Anarchist, is certainly not a grim thriller but more of an investigative farce - with live music and breadsticks!Comic, farcical and occasionally verging on slapstick, Dario Fo’s Accidental Death of an Anarchist is based on a true event which took place in 1969 when an anarchist apparently ‘fell’ from the fourth floor window of a Milan police station whilst being held in custody. With Fo’s cleverly snappy dialogue exploding like gunfire, the play gains momentum at a cracking pace to reveal a masterly plot to ridicule the police and expose a cover up. One of the world's most frequently performed living playwrights, Fo is to Italy what Ayckbourn is to Britain. His dramatic work employs comedic methods of the ancient Italian commedia dell'arte and director Peter Doran’s production will remain true to that. The unique talent of commedia players was to improvise comedy around a pre–established scenario - responding to each other, or to audience reaction. The actors, who represented fixed social types such as foolish old men, devious servants, or military officers full of false bravado, made use of especially rehearsed routines that could be inserted into the plays at convenient points to heighten the comedy, with musical numbers and impromptu dialogue added to vary the happenings on stage. The casting of this production therefore threw several challenges in Peter’s direction. But what a cast he’s gathered. The multi-talented ensemble of five actor/musicians sees the welcome return to the Torch stage of Edward Harrison, Lee Mengo and Simon Ludders alongside newcomers Philip Voyzey and Catherine Ritchie. No strangers to comedy, between them they also play flute, guitar and piano accordion with the novel addition of one tapdancer! Italian music played live will give people a different level of experience… said Peter …and I want that experience to start as soon as they walk into the Theatre. I would like people not only to have a really entertaining evening but also to understand the significance of the production and then come out afterwards thinking – ‘Cor! weren’t they a talented bunch!’ Where the breadsticks come into it, you’ll just have to wait and see. Accidental Death of An Anarchist is a delightfully tongue in cheek slice of Italy performed by the Torch Theatre Company and opens at the Torch, in Milford Haven, on Wednesday 6 October, running until Saturday 22 after which the Company takes on its second tour of Wales this year. A performance with Audio Description for the sight impaired will take place on Thursday 20 October, sponsored by South Hook LNG Terminal Co. Ltd. To purchase tickets, contact the Torch Box Office on 01646 695267 or visit their website at www.torchtheatre.co.uk. |
| Torch Theatre Company web site: www.torchtheatre.co.uk |
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Wednesday, September 14, 2011 |
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