NEW YORK—Government ineptitude, police brutality and corruption take it on the chin in My Fair Heathen Productions' nearly perfect presentation of Dario Fo's ever-timely and topical political farce "Accidental Death of an Anarchist."
In the Central Police Headquarters in Milan, an anarchist was brought into the station as a suspect in a series of bombings and somehow plunged out a fourth floor window to his death. The police called it suicide, the press and the public called it murder and an official report called the death "accidental." Into this tense atmosphere comes a Manic (a brilliant performance by Megan O'Leary), a man who has made a career of impersonating various figures in authority—doctor, politician, policeman, etc.
After learning the investigation into the death of the anarchist is being reopened, the Maniac assumes the guise of a "Counselor of the High Court," one charged with finding out the truth. Brimming with purpose, he soon has the police reduced to blithering idiots while picking apart their stories (there are several official versions to pick from). Things get an extra element of daffiness when the actors break the fourth fall, going briefly in and out of character.
O'Leary is perfect as the Manic, switching gears, costumes and characters while keeping the befuddled and hapless police off balance, even enlisting them in the deception at one point that leads to physical comedy and breaking into song. The actors playing the police (Daniel Doohan, Matthew Wanders, Michael Satow and Del Lewis) work wonderfully together, as does Gretchen Knapp as a cynical crusading reporter, who learns too late she's more a part of the problem than the solution.
Unfortunately, the company doesn't seem to have enough faith in Fo's text (this translation was done by Gilliam Hanna) and throws in several references to George Bush and the current political situation. All this technique really does is take what is implied (that the political and power structure depicted can apply to any country, at any time and in any location) and make it so obvious that it weakens the overall effect.
Other then this one misstep, the production is very enjoyable, making one laugh while realizing just how truthful the underlying message is.
Accidental Death of an Anarchist
Presented by My Fair Heathen Productions
The Kraine Theater
85 East 4th Street
Tickets: 212-352-3101 or www.theatermania.com
Closes: July 22, 2007
Judd Hollander is the New York correspondent for the London publication The Stage.
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