Books › Morte accidentale di un anarchico
Morte accidentale di un anarchico
First published 1980 · 177 pages
A manic, laugh-out-loud farce that uses relentless absurdity to dismantle the terrifying reality of state-sanctioned violence.
What it feels like
Reading this play feels like being strapped into a runaway rollercoaster built entirely of bureaucratic red tape and dynamite. It is a masterclass in manic, propulsive energy, using the mechanics of classic farce—disguises, rapid-fire wordplay, and escalating absurdity—to dissect a very real, very grim instance of state violence. The atmosphere is chaotic and darkly comic, keeping you constantly off-balance as the dialogue whips between slapstick humor and razor-sharp political indictment. The prose is inherently theatrical, demanding to be spoken aloud, full of fourth-wall breaks and biting irony. It is a perfect fit for readers who love their political critiques served with a heavy dose of irreverence, proving that sometimes the most effective weapon against institutional terror is relentless, mocking laughter.
- Mood
- chaotic
- absurd
- darkly comic
- frenetic
- Tone
- satirical
- manic
- irreverent
- biting
- cynical
- Pace
- propulsive
- Themes
- institutional corruption · the absurdity of authority · truth versus official narrative · state violence · political theater
- The writing
- The dialogue is rapid-fire and highly theatrical, packed with sharp wit, fourth-wall breaks, and an improvisational energy that leaps off the page.
- The arc
- The experience begins in a state of manic, slapstick confusion and escalates into a furious, razor-sharp indictment that leaves you laughing through gritted teeth.
- Who it's for
- Fans of dark political satire and theatrical absurdity who appreciate using relentless humor to dismantle corrupt institutions.
Content notes
- police brutality
- death by falling
- political violence
- corruption
About the book
Dario Fo's controversial farce has been seen by over half a million people. It has been performed all over the world, and has become a classic. A sharp and hilarious satire on political corruption, it concerns the case of an anarchist railway worker who, in 1969, 'fell' to his death from a police headquarters window. Simon Nye's witty translation updates and relocates the play close to contemporary England. It premiered at the Donmar Warehouse, London, in 2003.
Description from Open Library.
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