MEDIA RELEASE
Stage Left Productions presents
 
MISTERO BUFFO
Comic Mysteries

by DARIO FO

Translated by Ed Emery
Starring Douglas Blaikie & Myles Pollard

Belvoir St Downstairs Theatre
27 March – 13 April 2008

In a time of oppression, only a fool speaks the truth

Stage Left Productions presents a selection of stories from Mistero Buffo, by leading Italian playwright, political satirist and clown, Dario Fo at Downstairs Belvoir St Theatre from 27 March 2008.
 
Irreverent and intelligent, Mistero Buffo - or “Comic Mysteries” - crossbreeds medieval Christian parables with political and religious satire. In the tradition of the “fool” or jester, Fo’s cast of characters amuse audiences with their the raucous antics, mocking blind faith and parodying greed, corruption and hypocrisy. Topical, provocative and persuasive this play is as relevant now as ever.
 
Douglas Blaikie and Myles Pollard star in this powerful comedy production which will present the Fool’s stories from different points of view and evolve with each performance as each character interacts with the audience.
 
Dario Fo first performed Mistero Buffo as a one man play in 1969 and it is considered his most controversial. In 1977, the Vatican said of a television version on the production, that it was “the most blasphemous show in the history of television”.  Much to their surprise, in 1997, Fo was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for Literature.

Director Bill Blaikie is making his return to Sydney theatre after over thirty years inspiring many of the theatre industry’s workers as lecturer and course coordinator for Charles Sturt University’s Theatre/Media program.  Most recently, Bill directed A Local Man at Ensemble Theatre (2007).