Mistero Buffo

Mistero buffo ("Comical Mystery") is Dario Fo's solo pièce célèbre, performed across Europe, Canada and Latin America from 1969 to 1999.^[1] It is recognised as one of the most controversial and popular spectacles in postwar European theatre and its broadcast in Italy prompted the Vatican to denounce it as "the most blasphemous show in the history of television".^[1]

The performance is a series of small one-act plays built around the idea of the travelling players of medieval times, who would travel to towns and villages, bringing the latest news, Fo also performs theatrical pieces which are sometimes subversive in their content. The final section of the collection consists of Passion Plays narrating the life and times of Christ.

Fo's work originates in the surviving texts and descriptions of the giullari.^[2] The title of the piece is borrowed from Mystery-Bouffe by Vladimir Mayakovsky.^[2] An authorised English translation has been carried out by Ed Emery.^[3]

Further reading

• Mitchell, Tony (1999), "Mistero buffo and the giullarate", Dario Fo: People's Court Jester (Updated and Expanded), London: Methuen, ISBN 0-413-73320-3. 

References

Works by Dario Fo 1950s Corpse for Sale (1958) The Virtuous Burglar (1958) Archangels Don't Play Pinball (1959) 1960s He Had Two Pistols with White and Black Eyes (1960) He Who Steals a Foot is Lucky in Love (1961) Isabella, Three Sailing Ships and a Con Man (1963) Throw the Lady Out (1967) Grand Pantomime with Flags and Small and Middle-sized Puppets (1968) Mistero Buffo (1969) The Worker Knows 300 Words, the Boss Knows 1000, That's Why He's the Boss (1969) Chain Me Up and I'll Still Smash Everything (1969) 1970s I'd Rather Die Tonight If I Had To Think It Had All Been In Vain (1970) Accidental Death of an Anarchist (1970) United We Stand! All Together Now! Oops, Isn't That the Boss? (1971) Fedayn (1972) Mamma Togni (1973) The People's War in Chile (1973) Porta and Belli Against the Authorities (1974) Can't Pay? Won't Pay! (1974) Fanfani Kidnapped (1975) Mother's Marijuana is the Best (1976) Let's Talk About Women (1977) All House, Bed and Church (1977) The Tale of a Tiger (1978) 1980s Trumpets and Raspberries (1981) The Open Couple (1983) Elizabeth: Almost by Chance a Woman (1984) The Tricks of the Trade (TV, 1985) Hellequin, Harlekin, Arlecchino (1985) Abducting Francesca (1986) The First Miracle of the Infant Jesus (TV, 1987) Letter from China (1989) The Story of Qu (1989) The Wanted Man (1989) The Pope and the Witch (1989) 1990s Hush! We're Falling! (1990) Johan Padan and the Discovery of the Americas (1992) Seventh Commandment: Steal a Bit Less No. 2 (1992) Mummy! The Sans-culottes! (1993) Sex? Thanks, Don't Mind If I Do! (1994) Leonardo: The Flight, the Count and the Amours (1995) The Devil with Boobs (1997) The Two-Headed Anomaly (2003) Undated Michele Lu Lanzone The Tumult of Bologna The Butterfly Mouse The Birth of the Jongleur One was Nude and One wore Tails Related An Arab Woman Speaks—monologue from Fedayn Waking Up—monologue from All House, Bed and Church A Woman Alone—monologue from All House, Bed and Church Freak Mother—monologue from All House, Bed and Church The Same Old Story—monologue from All House, Bed and Church Medea—monologue from All House, Bed and Church