Written by Dario Fo
Directed by Clare
Moss
Limbo Theatre Co.
& Honest Puck
CADA Studios Theatre,
Fyshwick to 4 August.
Reviewed by Len Power
1 August 2018
Along with Canberra Sinfonia and Mockingbird Theatre, Limbo
Theatre Co. is the third new creative arts group to appear in Canberra within a
month. Formed by graduates of the
Canberra Academy of Dramatic Art, Limbo aims to bridge the gap between study
and industry.
Their choice of Dario Fo’s 1970 Italian play, ‘Accidental
Death Of An Anarchist’, was a good showcase for the group of six actors to show
what they can do. Fo’s play is based on
a true event in Milan in 1969 where an arrested protester died suspiciously
while in custody at a police station.
While it was no laughing matter, Dario Fo uses farce, vaudeville and a
whole range of theatrical elements to deliver a pungent political message about
truth and reality.
The frenetic action of this play with its physical and
verbal comedy played at breakneck speed has been carefully controlled by
director, Clare Moss, and she has obtained fine performances from her company
of six actors.
 |
| Damon Baudin and Hayden Splitt |
In the marathon role of the Maniac, Hayden Splitt gives an
extraordinarily winning performance. He
plays at a furiously manic pace with clear diction and excellent verbal comic
timing throughout and skilfully handles the physical demands of the role as
well.
 |
| Left to Right: Damon Baudin, Nick Steain, Anneke van der Velde and Izaac Beach |
Nick Steain, Izaac Beach and Damon Baudin give funny and
sharply etched characterisations as the increasingly frustrated and confused
police officers and Anneka van der Velde shows fine skills in physical comedy
as the Constables. Imogene Irvine plays
the unflappable journalist, Feletti, with a studied calmness in a nice contrast
to the other characters.
This is a highly entertaining play directed and performed
very well by all concerned. The full
house on opening night was in stitches laughing at the absurdities of the plot
and the characters. Still, Dario Fo’s
message about the dangerous areas between truth and lies stays with you long
after this play has ended.
Photos by the production.
Len Power’s reviews
are also broadcast in his ‘On Stage’ performing arts radio program on Mondays
and Wednesdays from 3.30pm on Artsound FM 92.7.
