From Dario Fo’s Nobel banquet thank you speech:
… when the theatre is ironic, grotesque, it’s above all then that you have to defend it, because the theatre that makes people laugh is the theatre of human reason.
And if you have any problems, seek the support of the Pope. You will no doubt succeed.
In context, the bit about the Pope makes sense as he’s telling a story about Queen Kristina and Pope Alexander VII. Out of that context and in the context of our upcoming production, it really makes me laugh. On the set we have a portait of Pope John Paul II, and he’s practically become a 6th actor in the show. I hope you get the chance to see it for yourself.
Here’s also a great transcript of a PBS Newshour on Fo around the time of his Nobel.
