Audition Notes
A bit about the play
If you liked One Man, Two Guvners, you’ll love this play. This is a hilarious comedy with a hard
political edge, typical of Dario Fo. It involves a lot of physical comedy and interaction with the
audience, as well as some singing. It is the play that more than any other won Dario Fo the Nobel
prize for literature.
It is all set in the police headquarters in Milan in the 1970s (with some deliberate anachronisms),
shortly after an anarchist “died accidentally” in police custody, falling out of a fourth story window.
The city is tense after a series of bomb attacks. It feels very current, given our current fears of
terrorist attacks.
The play revolves around four policemen trying to cover up their involvement, Maniac who tries
every trick in the book to get to the truth, and an investigative journalist, Feletti, who is also trying to
get to the truth. The denouement comes when the truth is established as a bomb ticks towards
exploding. Who will get blown up? Ultimately, the audience has to decide.
It should be played at a breakneck speed, with great seriousness – that is where the comedy comes
from, even though the situations are often absurd. The stakes for everyone are very high. Much of
the dialogue, while ridiculous, is taken from real transcripts of the police evidence. Every part is
significant and strong.
A bit about the characters
In theory, there are five male characters and one female. However, there is nothing that stops the
characters from being either gender, especially the Maniac and the Constable. The journalist,
Feletti, however, has to be a woman.
Maniac (M or F)
By far the biggest part, this is the clown, who is a master of disguise, doffing a range of ridiculous of
silly costumes, adopting a range of voices and costumes. Called Maniac, this character is the most
sane of anyone, tricking the police into admitting guilt. As a master of disguise, this character can be
played by a man or woman of any age.
Inspector Bertozzo (M)
Can be any age, but is a male. Classic police inspector, not very bright, but believes he is doing a
great job in impossible circumstances. Very 9-5, by the rules, unimaginative
Inspector Pissani (M)
Any age, male. Very emotional, does not do things by the book, quick to anger.
Superintendent (M)
The boss. Has little control over his team, desperate not to be implicated – a political wheeler
dealer. Any age.
Constable (M or F)
There are actually two constables, but they are played by the same person, with a minor change of
makeup – e.g. a stick-on moustache. Could be male or female. Very worried about losing their
pension - a bit brighter than any of the other police. Any age.
Feletti (F)
A glamorous investigative journalist – sharp and bright. Any age, but must be glamorous. Only in
Act Two, but a vital part of the play.
Rehearsal schedule
The play is in May, but we’ll get started rehearsing in January. There will be three rehearsals a week,
but in January we’ll be doing quite a bit of workshopping around physical comedy, clowning and
character development as well as getting deeply into the plot. There will be some fight workshops
as well. From the start of March, we’ll be focusing on developing the play. We’ll need books down
by then, as this sort of play is difficult to rehearse with books in hand.
Audition pieces
Bertozzo, Maniac
Maniac, Pissani, Constable, Superintendent
Now Fatherland, Fatherland, show us the sign
Your children have waited to see
The morning will come when the world is mine
Tomorrow belongs to me
Tomorrow belongs to me
Constable/Pissani/Superintendent/Bertozzo/Maniac
MANIAC
shouting and miming various tortures
Feletti/Superintendent/Pissani/Bertozzo