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Theatre listings >
Can't Pay? Won't Pay!
- Tour
Playwright - Dario Fo.
Director - Andy Arnold.
Set Designer - Geoff Rose
Costume Designers - Geoff Rose and Morna Baxter.
Lighting Designer - Dave Shea.
Sound - Kenny Christie.
Scenic Artist - Julie Kirsop.
Company - 7:84 Theatre Company Scotland
Cast - here
Tour Dates and Times - here
Seen to review at Paisley Arts Centre
Run Time - 2 hours including 15 mins interval
Reviewer - Thelma Good
Still a powerful political piece.
Can't Pay, Won't Pay - 7:84 Theatre Company Scotland Production.
Andrew Dallmeyer in one of his four roles.
© Heather Richmond. 2003.
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Dario Fo's play 20 years on is still a powerful political piece. At its
best, it hurtles along at breakneck speed, with the central figures trying
to keep sane in an ever more crazy world of comic policemen and phantom
pregnancies. It does have a period feel, set in the Italy of 1980's when
inflation became meteoric with prices increase daily. Not quite the realities
of 2003, where inflation in food costs is of less consequence than the
rises in house prices.
That said 7:84's new production is skilfully done, with strong performances
from all of the cast of five. It moves seamlessly from social realism
to surreal farce, puntuated with very funny lines and knowing references
to the absurdity of theatre itself.
Geoff Rose's cartoon style set is comic in itself with a cupboard large
enough for a man in a uniform and more besides and scene changes achieved
with a human powered revolve. The costumes too designed by him and Morna
Baxter came from heightened reality 70s.
At the beginning of the tour the cast are already delivering the full
of bounce and business script so that political and social points shoot
out from the stage with comic thrust. Anita Vettesse, Antonia and
Michele Gallagher, Margherita are two Italian wives who respond
to rising prices by raiding the supermarket. Like some of today's politicans
Antonia's given to telling incredible stories to get her out of her predicaments.
Husband Giovanni, Vincent Friell, has a strong moral streak but
he ignores his rectitude when his wife gets herself and their neighbours
compromised. Before long with Luigi, Margherita's husband, Ross Stenhouse
they are hiding things from their wives as well as the police. The
Italian Mr Plods are part of the huge fun of Andrew Dallmeyer's many
roled contribution. Sliding down drainpipes, turning up just at the wrong
moment, his policemen, undertaker and Old Man are full of clowning energy.
Enjoyable to watch it's interesting afterwards to reflect where the couples
would be today. Working in the service industries, legal or illegal, sitting
in a house they're mortgaged to or will never own, or begging in the street?
© Thelma Good 8 February 2003. - Published on EdinburghGuide.com
Cast:
Andrew Dallmeyer as Sergeant/ Inspector/Undertaker/Old Man, Vincent
Friell as Giovanni, Michele Gallacher as Margherita, Ross
Stenhouse as Luigi and Anita Vettesse as Antonia.
Production's tour dates
Tour begins
6 - 8 Feb at
7:30pm Paisley Paisley Arts Centre 0141 887 1010.
11 Feb at 7:30pm Dumfries Theatre Royal 01387 247 780.
12 Feb at 7:30pm Livingston Howden Park Centre 01506
433 634.
14 Feb at 8pm St Andrews Byre Theatre 01334 475 000.
15 Feb at 7: 30pm Kilmarnock Palace Theatre 01563 554
900.
18 Feb at 7:30pm Lerwick Garrison Theatre 01595 692 114.
20 Feb at 8pm Inverness Eden Court Theatre 01463 234
234.
22 Feb at 7:30pm Oban Corran Halls 01631 567 333.
25 Feb at 7:30pm Glasgow Castlemilk Youth Complex 0845
330 3501.
26 & 27 Feb at 7:45pm Cumbernauld Cumbernauld Theatre 01236
732 887.
28 Feb & 1 March at 7:30pm Musselburgh Brunton Theatre 0131
665 2240.
11 March at 7:30pm Glasgow Kinfauns Centre 0845 330 3501.
12 March at 7:30pm Glasgow Barmulloch Hall 0845 330 3501.
14 March at 7:30pm Perth Perth Repertory Theatre 01738
472 700.
15 March at 7:30pm Dunfermline Carnegie Hall 01383 314
000.
18 - 22 March at 8pm Glasgow Tron 0141 552 4267.
Tour Ends
Tour ends
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