Archangels Don't Play Pinball
Archangels Don't Play Pinball | |
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Written by | Dario Fo |
Original language | Italian |
Archangels Don't Play Pinball (Italian title: Gli arcangeli non giocano al flipper)[1] is a 1959 two-act play by Dario Fo. The play uses the metaphor of a pinball machine—a new innovation in Italy at the time and one which Fo and his wife Franca Rame were fond of— to convey mechanisation and conspicuous consumption.[2]
Plot summary
A group of young Milanese men play a prank on one of their group - "Lofty". They arrange for a fake marriage to take place between Lofty and a prostitute who pretends to be a beautiful Albanian princess. Lofty has a problem - he needs to get identity papers from the Ministry. The only way he can do this is to become a dog. He is taken into a local kennel, where he is eventually bought by a circus owner. After various further adventures, Lofty eventually awakes, only to find that it has all been a dream with the lovely lady there with him. Archangels don't play pinball with people's lives.[3]
Song
The play is also noted for its use of song. One example is "Stringimi forte i polsi" (Hold my wrists tightly together) which the protagonist Il Lungo (Stretch) sings to an "Albanian" prostitute whose wrists he is bound to.[2] It would later be the theme tune to the TV programme Canzonissima which the playwright, Dario Fo, makes a controversial appearance on.[4]
Translations
Ed Emery has carried out an authorised English translation.[5]
Further reading
- Mitchell, Tony (1999), Dario Fo: People's Court Jester (Updated and Expanded), London: Methuen, ISBN 0-413-73320-3.
References
- v
- 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