The Virtuous Burglar

The Virtuous Burglar (Italian title: Non tutti i ladri vengono a nuocere)^[1] is a one-act play by Dario Fo.

Plot summary

A Feydau-style farce in which a burglar who is in the act of burgling the house is interrupted by the arrival of a couple - who are in fact having an affair. The farcical complications that ensue also involve the arrival of the burglar's wife. In the end, as they are all arguing among themselves, yet another burglar arrives to burgle the flat.^[2]

Translations

Ed Emery has carried out an English translation ("The Good that a Burglar Can Bring").^[3]

Joe Farrell has carried out an English adaptation ("The Virtuous Burglar").^[4]

Further reading

• Mitchell, Tony (1999), 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