The artistic head of Piccolo Theatre, John Szostek was interviewed recently by Behind the Fringe.com, a fantastic website that casts its spotlight on smaller theatres. They give smaller "fringe" theatres and emerging artists in Chicago, New York, London and beyond a place to tell the world about their artistic mission, what projects they are doing, and why you should see them. Check it out!
Excerpt from interview with Behind the Fringe.com
BTF: Will you tell us about your show?
JS: 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 husbands, Giovanni and Luigi - not to mention the pol
Piccolo Theatre: LOW PAY? DON'T PAY!
ice - the women are forced to resort to more and more inventive hiding places, as slapstick confusion leads to rollicking chaos. The first version of Dario Fo’s We Won’t Pay! We Won’t Pay! was presented in 1974 and was what he described as a "story that was pretty much impossible, if not downright surreal." A few months later the events of the play happened in Milan. The shoppers that went in for "proletarian shopping" were arrested and put on trial.
BTF: How and when did it come about?
JS: Piccolo Theatre’s first full production was We Won’t Pay! We Won’t Pay! presented ten years ago at Next Theatre. In celebration of our tenth Anniversary we decided to remount the show. It was recently updated by Dario Fo and re-titled, Low Pay? Don’t Pay! I had the honor of making the American version of the play.
BTF: What's your story?
JS: I began my love for Commedia dell'Arte while performing in Geoffrey Buckley's Commedia dell'Arte Troupe in Stratford-upon-Avon, England. I have performed as a featured actor in the Lyric Opera productions of Don Quichotte(Arlecchino) and Cosi fan tutti (Pulcinella) and performed in the American Ballet Theatre production of The Firebird and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra production of Beauty and the Beast. I was also played Dan Farblundget in the Emmy Award winning season of Beyond the Magic Door. Since founding Piccolo Theatre I have directed the company in, We Won't Pay! We Won't Pay!, The Artful Widow, Scapin, Mistero Buffo, Sinbad, Vaudeville and Robinson Crusoe. In 1997 I undertook the restoration of the Main Street Metra Station and turned it into a cultural center and theatre. In 2008 I was honored with the Artist of the Year Award by the Mayor of Evanston. I am currently the Executive Director of Evanston Festival Theatre which produces the annual Custer Fair.
To read further about John's theatrical influences and what you should never expect from him, reach the full interview here.
The first round of Low Pay? Don't Pay! production photos have arrived! Check out the Piccolo Facebook page to see more.
Photos by Denita Linnertz
Are you in the mood for a heavy handed, in-your-face, hilarious, agitprop farce? Oh, you are? Well check this out... a play that'll make you think, make you laugh, then punch you in the nuts!
(Thanks to Ensemble Member Glenn Proud for summing up the show so beautifully!)
