PLAY

Following the outrageous rise in energy and food costs the ordinary everyday folk in this play suddenly decide enough is enough. The first few lines set the scene; working women have rebelled against the rising cost of living by shop-lifting en masse in the local supermarket. A mini revolt undertaken not by rampant hooligans or criminal gangs but by ‘normal law abiding folk’. They simply walk out after looting the shelves refusing to pay. 

The fast moving farce portrays their futile efforts to conceal their ill-gotten gains first from their husbands and then from the police. The women’s increasingly frantic efforts to cover up lead to trouble for their confused husbands, and as so often with Dario Fo, contact with blundering police officers. Of course pilfering from high street shops and supermarkets is no laughing matter and a growing menace.

Fortunately the Nobel winning writer saw humour and farce in everyday struggles. He originally wrote the play in 1974 in response to the economic crisis in Italy. Sadly, 50 years on in the UK, this play feels just as relevant as ever. We all need a belly laugh right now and this play by Dario Fo is really very funny. Just the tonic.