The Devil with Boobs
The Devil with Boobs | |
---|---|
Written by | Dario Fo |
Original language | Italian |
The Devil with Boobs (Italian title: Il diavolo con le zinne)[1] is a two-act play by Dario Fo, recipient of the 1997 Nobel Prize in Literature.
First produced at Messina's Teatro Vittorio Emmanuele on 7 August 1997 (directed by Dario Fo), an English production occurred at the National Theatre Youth project in Summer 1999.
Described by Fo as "a Machiavellian comedy, a gigantic late sixteenth-century intrigue, with judges and devils, housekeepers possessed by devils, hermits, gendarmes, torturers and even a monkey", it featured an homage to his long-time collaborator Fiorenzo Carpi who had died earlier that year (1997).[2]
Plot summary
As described by Cappa and Nepoli, 'Alfonso Ferdinando de Tristano, an incorruptible, progressive magistrate (who disapproves of torture as an instrument of persuasion) investigates an arson in the cathedral. Unhappy about being subjected to his investigation, the prominent citizens of the town launch a campaign to discredit him, employing a couple of devils. One of them is instructed to enter the magistrate's body "through the most suitable orifice, the anus," transforming him into a rogue, a debauchee, a hypocrite and a black marketeer. Due to a misunderstanding, the devil Barlocca enters the body of Pizzocca Gannàssa, Alfonso's elderly and ungainly housekeeper, who is transformed into a delectable, busty lady (the 'boobs' of the title). Led astray by this beauty, the magistrate is dragged into court, but the she-devil allows him to be acquitted. Nonetheless, he is condemned to become a galley slave in a subsequent trial.' [3]
Translations
Ed Emery has carried out an English translation.[4]
Further reading
- Mitchell, Tony (1999), Dario Fo: People's Court Jester (Updated and Expanded), London: Methuen, ISBN 0-413-73320-3.
References
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- t
- e
- Corpse for Sale (1958)
- The Virtuous Burglar (1958)
- Archangels Don't Play Pinball (1959)
- He Had Two Pistols with White and Black Eyes (1960)
- He Who Steals a Foot is Lucky in Love (1961)
- Isabella, Three Sailing Ships and a Con Man (1963)
- Throw the Lady Out (1967)
- Grand Pantomime with Flags and Small and Middle-sized Puppets (1968)
- Mistero Buffo (1969)
- The Worker Knows 300 Words, the Boss Knows 1000, That's Why He's the Boss (1969)
- Chain Me Up and I'll Still Smash Everything (1969)
- I'd Rather Die Tonight If I Had To Think It Had All Been In Vain (1970)
- Accidental Death of an Anarchist (1970)
- United We Stand! All Together Now! Oops, Isn't That the Boss? (1971)
- Fedayn (1972)
- Mamma Togni (1973)
- The People's War in Chile (1973)
- Porta and Belli Against the Authorities (1974)
- Can't Pay? Won't Pay! (1974)
- Fanfani Kidnapped (1975)
- Mother's Marijuana is the Best (1976)
- Let's Talk About Women (1977)
- All House, Bed and Church (1977)
- The Tale of a Tiger (1978)
- Trumpets and Raspberries (1981)
- The Open Couple (1983)
- Elizabeth: Almost by Chance a Woman (1984)
- The Tricks of the Trade (TV, 1985)
- Hellequin, Harlekin, Arlecchino (1985)
- Abducting Francesca (1986)
- The First Miracle of the Infant Jesus (TV, 1987)
- Letter from China (1989)
- The Story of Qu (1989)
- The Wanted Man (1989)
- The Pope and the Witch (1989)
- Hush! We're Falling! (1990)
- Johan Padan and the Discovery of the Americas (1992)
- Seventh Commandment: Steal a Bit Less No. 2 (1992)
- Mummy! The Sans-culottes! (1993)
- Sex? Thanks, Don't Mind If I Do! (1994)
- Leonardo: The Flight, the Count and the Amours (1995)
- The Devil with Boobs (1997)
- The Two-Headed Anomaly (2003)
- "An Arab Woman Speaks"—monologue from Fedayn