Isabella, drei Karavellen und ein Scharlatan

by Dario Fo, Peter O. Chotjewitz (Translator)

Ο Ντάριο Φο διηγείται, με τον δικό του αμίμητο τρόπο, την ιστορία του Χριστόφορου Κολόμβου. Χειμαρώδης, γενναιόδωρος, απολαυστικός. Οξυδερκής, καυστικός, ανατρεπτικός. Βαθιά πολιτικός. Ενοχλητικός. Θεατρίνος και γελωτοποιός. Ξετυλίγει το κουβάρι μιας "γνωστής" ιστορίας και ανάγει ένα λησμονημένο "παραμύθι" σε προβληματισμό ενός σύγχρονου πολίτη. Γιατί το ταξίδι του Κολόμβου μπορεί να είναι, εντέλει, η διαδρομή του καθενός μας. Το παραμύθι της δικής μας ζωής. Το όνειρό μας

105 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1963

About the author

Dario Fo was an Italian satirist, playwright, theatre director, actor, and composer. He received the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1997. In 2007 he was ranked Joint Seventh with Stephen Hawking in The Telegraph's list of 100 greatest living geniuses. His dramatic work employed comedic methods of the ancient Italian commedia dell'arte, a theatrical style popular with the proletarian classes. He owned and operated a theatre company with his wife, the leading actress Franca Rame. Dario Fo died in Milan on October 13th 2016, at the age of 90.

Reviews

[Iamthesword · Rating 3 out of 5]

In its better moments, Fo's play about Christopher Columbus trying to get his expeditions financed by Isabella and Ferdinand of Spain reminded me of Brecht's theatrical works. He had strong points to make about the absurdity of systems of political power and the way rulers use them. And often, the play was quiet funny with a reliance on snippy, fast dialogues and a lot of word plays.

Sadly, the play lost a lot of its drive and energy in the second half and the end was quit predictable. All in all, it was an enjoyable read, but nothing that will stick to me for very long.