A lone maniac sets the police of Italy on their heads in Nobel Prize-winner Dario Fo’s classic play Accidental Death of an Anarchist. The Milan police force has been wildly condemned by the public following the death of a young, falsely-accused anarchist after his interrogation at their hands. Official reports of the incident conflict: in the first report, the man’s death is listed as “accidental,� whereas it is later listed as “suicide.� In the midst of this, the Maniac is hauled into the police station on charges of “impersonation.� The Maniac knows the police cannot hold him, as he has been legally-certified insane, and takes the opportunity to impersonate a judge sent to reopen the inquiry into the anarchist death, a forensic expert, and a bishop. Through his probing, hilarious, and shocking investigation, the Maniac reveals himself to be a hero to the people--and the police department’s worst nightmare.
The Accidental Death of an Anarchist guide sections
