Review : Political satire sees police team taken in by maniac

The first play in the new season at the Robin Hood Theatre, Averham, is a political satire that is still relevant today.

Accidental Death Of An Anarchist was written by Dario Fo in the late 1960s and is based on real-life events that took place in Milan.

This production is set in a police headquarters somewhere in England in the present day, and tells the story of an anarchist railway worker who fell to his death from a window while in police custody.

A Maniac, perfectly played by Rachel Repper, arrives at the HQ to be questioned by Bertozzo, a rather exasperated policeman, played by Ziemek Kaczmarek, who struggles to keep the situation under control.

While out of the office, the Maniac finds out that a High Court judge is arriving to reopen the enquiry into the anarchist’s death. The Maniac, who is a master of disguise, decides to pretend to be the judge and have some fun with the Superintendent (Cavan McLaughlin) the Inspector (Rebecca Briggs-Price) and the Journalist (Hannah O’Brien).

Rachel is excellent as the madcap Maniac, dressed in scruffy dungarees and a pair of crocks, who spends most of her time talking to the audience as any good commedia dell’arte should be performed.

Throughout the play she transforms into a forensic expert, and even a bishop, complete with different accents.

Cavan, looking very smart in uniform, speaks with a Yorkshire accent as does Rebecca as the feisty inspector, who are gullible and taken in by the Maniac to save their jobs. Hannah makes an inquisitive journalist.

The cast is completed by Liz Morgan as a Constable. She may not say much, but when she does it is worth waiting for.

There are also a few surprises along the way as the farcical situation gets worse. Directed by Geoff Morgan it can be seen until Saturday. — DAS.