Francis, the Holy Jester - Softcover

This masterpiece from Nobel Prize winner Dario Fo is an intimate, insightful and hilarious portrait of Saint Francis of Assisi - the 13th century saint so often spoken of but so little understood. Made up of four key episodes from Francis's life, it demonstrates his ability to combat corruption, greed and destruction; influence and inspire people; and bring about change without resorting to direct confrontation. Originally written as a stage monologue, the novella is laced with satire and political provocation that doesn't get in the way of good old-fashioned storytelling.

***** Great show 09 Aug 2009 ''If most theatre groups at the fringe said they would take you back to the thirtenth century it would be a lie - but this show really does. Mario seems to inhabit the character of not only St Francis, but all the figures of the Italian early renaissance including corrupt Popes, scheming townspeople and even wolves. He performs in english but doesn't lose the richness of the Italian original, and there are some cracking punchlines which had the audience in stitches. By far the best thing I've seen so far this year - among a lot of predictable stuff you would never regret going to see this.'' Edinburgh Fringe

''Veteran Dario Fo associate Mario Pirovano delivers Fo's characteristically folksy monologues about Francis of Assisi with a verve and informality that closely resemble Fo's own performance style. There is one animal story, but the emphasis is on Francis' democratic and pacifist impulses. His 1222 'harangue' to the war-loving citizens of Bologne ironically praises them for their skill and efficiency at killing both their foes and themselves. Describing the miracle of the water into wine, Francis plays Mary, Jesus, the Cana caterer and a passing drunk, effortlessly domesticating the tale, while a high-ranking Cardinal is described as knowing the Pope so well he can call him Innocent, without the number, and even the account of Francis' death is lightened as the saint auditions singers for the mourning choir. This is the first performance of the monologues in English, in a fluid and colloquial translation by Pirovano himself, that even manages a few jokes and puns, as when a tipsy Cana guest tells Jesus: ''You are de wine.'' Pirovano performs with enthusiasm and high energy, accompanying every line with movements, facial expressions or gestures that sometimes approach the manic style of Robin Williams but that, like his stories, are rendered friendly and unthreatening by his obvious pleasure in sharing with us.'' Gerald Berkowitz , The Stage

Dario Fo won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1997. He is the author of many award-winning plays including: * Archangels Don't Play Pinball (1959) * He Had Two Pistols with White and Black Eyes (1960) * He Who Steals a Foot is Lucky in Love (1961) * Isabella, Three Tall Ships, and a Con Man(1961) * Mistero Buffo (Comic Mystery, 1969) * The Worker Knows 300 Words, the Boss 1000, That's Why He's the Boss (1969) * Accidental Death of an Anarchist (1970) * Fedayin (1971) * We Won't Pay! We Won't Pay! (Non Si Paga! Non Si Paga!) (aka Can't Pay? Won't Pay!) (1974) # Mama's Marijuana is the Best (1976) # All House, Bed, and Church (1977) # The Tale of a Tiger (1978) # Trumpets and Raspberries (1981) # The Open Couple (1983) # Elizabeth: Almost by Chance a Woman (1984) # One was Nude and One wore Tails (1985) # Abducting Diana (1986) - Adapted to English in 1996 by Stephen Stenning # The Tricks of the Trade (Manuale minimo dell'attore) [1987] (1991) [1] # The Zeedonk and the Shoe (1988) # The Pope and the Witch (1989) # A Woman Alone (1991) # Johan Padan and the Discovery of the Americas (1992) # The Devil with Boobs (1997) # The First Miracle of the Infant Jesus # Orgasmo Adulto Escapes from the Zoo # About Face # The Virtuous Burglar