Fast-Tracking to Anarchy

"If nothing else good comes out of our crisis, perhaps it will serve as a wake-up call for the entire nation. It's time to put our shoulders to the wheel to solve our problems.

Doing nothing is not an option for America. Much of poor America, especially in our major cities, has been Third World America for decades. Soon the urban middle classes and even upper classes will become better acquainted with that world."
- Janet Travakoli, Huffington Post

Remember a few posts ago, I promised that Piccolo would keep you laughing through some pretty serious issues? Just to be sure you don't think we're a fluffy group of actors who dream only of slapstick and slop scenes and door slamming, here are a couple of links and some reading to help you see the meat of our matter.

I can think of no single article to better summarize the "hot topics" in "Low Pay? Don't Pay!" than this article from Wednesday's Huffington Post. I urge you to give it a read here: Fast Tracking to Anarchy. It's not about the kind of anarchy that may immediately come to mind, but something much more real and much more close to home.

Can Chicago realistically fix its own problems? Can Illinois? Do I dare even ask about our national government?

Travakoli has also written about Arianna Huffington's new book, Third World America: How Our Politicians are Abandoning the Middle Class and Betraying the American Dream. I'm adding it to my reading list right now!

For some stunning visuals, visit Alison Wright Third World America Gallery. Click on Galleries on the left column and then scroll down to Third World America.

So now you see what we're talking about...which seems completely counter-intuitive to comedy, right? How does the hell does one laugh through all of this crap? When everything in the world seems to be turned against us average suckers? Playwright Dario Fo knows what he's doing. Stay tuned to the blog and you'll see!

Fake pregnancies are funny

I'm not spoiling anything when I mention that the two women in Low Pay? Don't Pay! spend most of the show faking pregnancy to hide the groceries they have stolen. This leads to some pretty hilarious shenanigans, akward moments with cabbage, and some (eh-hehm!) "educating" of the men. There will be more posts on this dubious topic in the future.

But for now, I just hope to entertain you with this little beauty, which was used to market a production of We Won't Pay! We Won't Pay! produced by The Next Arena theatre company in L.A. in 2005. So now that I've given them credit, pretend Piccolo shot this and then be so intrigued that you have to come to our production. Heh heh!



And let's not leave out hysterical pregnancies. Funny, right? "Hysterical" is right in the name! Before anyone jumps on us for our insensitivity, I know many other theatres would find an eloquent and interesting way to explore the emotional trauma that often comes with this condition. We here at Piccolo urge you to go see those shows, but would simply prefer to crack you up.

As the women in Low Pay? Don't Pay! try to find a way out of their obviously fake pregnancies, one option is to "say it was a hysterical pregnancy! It happens all the time. Women get pregnant and then all that comes out is air." It is decided that the husbands surely won't fall for it, so an alternative plan is hatched.....that is even more ridiculous! (And yes, the husbands fall for it.)

In the spirit of the ladies' initial hysterical pregnancy plan, enjoy this little bit of rediculousness.

The 10th Year Begins

10 years ago, a group of artists started on a journey by tackling Dario Fo's We Won't Pay! We Won't Pay!. The theme of the play being very convenient, because the ensemble was so poor, putting the production up was more like Can't Pay! Can't Pay! Piccolo Theatre had just formed and relied heavily on friends, the vitality of a young and eager ensemble, and some good old theatre magic. And boy, was it magic. Oh, the sweet sound of our first laughing audience!

10 years later, we're still relying on that good old theatre magic, but now have a great board of directors, lots of fun-loving patrons who buy tickets and even donate, a website, a blog (yay!), budgets, our own space, and a bigger, more-talented- than-ever ensemble. We've come a long way, baby!

So here we are, in 2010, returning lovingly to that very first show. With the brilliant John Szostek at the helm again and a cast filled with ensemble members. We can't wait to show you this newly updated script and see how hard we can make you laugh. We're shooting even higher than just "laugh your socks off". If there are articles of clothing you would be uncomfortable laughing off, we recommend duct taping them to yourself (just in case).

For those of you who know Dario Fo's work, or even this particular story, you know that mapcap hilarity runs parallel to some very serious issues. Low Pay? Don't Pay! deals with some economic issues that may hit very close to home for you. And the current political scene? Don't even get us started! Life for us, and you our audience, is certainly a lot different than it was a decade ago.

So how can we expect to keep you laughing through all of this muckity muck the world is throwing at us right now? Well, you just leave that to us at Piccolo Theatre....we still have a good supply of that old theatre magic!

Piccolo takes you way back to the beginning...

Piccolo Theatre proudly presents

Low Pay? Don't Pay!
by Dario Fo

The first production in our hilarious and triumphant 10^th Anniversary season. A decade after breaking into the Chicago theatre scene with this legendary comedy (under the former title of “We Won’t Pay! We Won’t Pay!), the time is ripe to bring it back to Piccolo’s stage. John Szostek, Piccolo’s Artistic Director, directs a skillful all-ensemble cast in the American premier of Fo’s fresh new adaptation.

Housewives Antonia and Margherita, fed up with high prices in the supermarket, take matters into their own hands and “liberate” some items from the local grocery store. Keen to hide their light-fingered antics from their hot-headed moralist husbands, Giovanni and Luigi – not to mention the police – the women are forced to resort to more and more inventive hiding places, as slapstick confusion leads to rollicking chaos.

If the economy has you down, this energetic and pointed farce
will cheer you up ‘Fo’ sure.

Sept 10-Oct 23, 2010

Previews Sept 3-5 Fri/Sat at 8pm, Sun at 3pm

Evanston Arts Depot, 600 Main St., Evanston

Tickets $25 for Adults, $20 for Seniors, $15 for Students, call for group rates

Call for reservations 847-424-0089 or order online www.piccolotheatre.com

Let's get this party started!

We're finally up and ready to get this blog moving. Keep your eyes open over the next few days and weeks as we embark upon our exciting 10th Anniversary season! We promise to keep our readers entertained, informed, and laughing. It's exactly what you can expect when you visit Piccolo Theatre...except from the comfort of your very own home. Or mobile phone. Or laptop. Hey, could you get us a triple foam double shot extra sweet latte while you're up? We've got a lot of rehearsal to get through this year!

Thanks!

Yours always, (or at least until you quit reading this blog),
Piccolo Theatre