We Won’t Pay, We Won’t Pay! But We Will Laugh at Frank Theatre’s Side Splitting Production

We Won’t Pay, We Won’t Pay! is an Italian play by Dario Fo. There is no translator credited in the program, but Wikipedia informs me that in 1984 an English translation was published by R. G. Davis. I have no idea if this is the same translation, though it feels decidedly more modern in some of the dialogue than the early ’80s. The question of credit only comes up in my mind because much of the dialogue, particularly by the characters of Antonia and her husband Giovanni, feels as if it is being made up on the spot by the actors portraying them, Kimberly Richardson and Randy Reyes. The script is a series of escalating lies that keep building on each other until they are stacked so high that no amount of gullibility can support them, and they all come tumbling down. What we are left with is a sobering truth, one moment of seriousness that hits home in these times of $4 gallons of gas and $5 gallons of milk.

Set in Italy in the 1970s, when and where it was written, it uses the Auto-reductionist movement as its jumping-off point. The play opens in the apartment of Antonia and Giovanni as Antonia and her friend Margherita arrive carrying bags of groceries. Antonia explains to Margherita how she went to the grocery store even though she had no money left to buy anything, as inflation has risen so high that even without paying rent, gas, or the electricity bill, she still cannot afford to feed herself and her husband. She describes, in animated style, the mass of women who, upon seeing that the prices of groceries had increased again, decided they would take what they needed and pay what they could, or not pay at all. This is based on actual occurrences at the time, and it is starting to feel like an idea ripe for reintroduction.

Richardson is one of the most hilariously gifted comedic talents in the Twin Cities. Her previous performances in shows like The Red Shoes at Open Eye Theater and A Midsummer Night’s Dream at the Guthrie are among my favorites of my blogging career. Both physically and verbally, she earns more laughs per minute of stage time than anyone else this year. Partnering her in leaps of outrageous logic is Reyes, who questions everything she says, leading her to make wilder and wilder claims. Then, rather than see through it, he internalizes and shares them as facts, embellishing them along the way. Not only are the explanations they come up with to explain things ludicrous, but the way in which the performers say them is priceless.

The play is performed in two acts with an intermission, with a run time of about two hours. The first act is the strongest. The second act is still very good, but it loses steam a little bit. I suspect what is really happening is that we are feeling laughter fatigue. We laugh so much and are so taken with the uproarious performances and script that by the time the second act gets about halfway done, we are ready to rest our facial muscles. Given the state of the world, the muscles used to smile and laugh are a little out of shape. That said, it was nice to exercise them so unreservedly again. If laughter is indeed the best medicine, I recommend everyone take two We Won’t Pays and call me in the morning.

Joining Richardson and Reyes are Maggie D’Ambrose as Margherita, Ben Qualley as various minor ensemble characters, Corey DiNardo as Luigi, Margherita’s husband, and Maria Asp as a Police Sergeant, Trooper, Undertaker, and Giovanni’s father. All are excellent, and there are some really fun moments of meta humor that seem to always revolve around Asp’s characters. As always, Wendy Knox’s direction is flawless. The pacing, the moments of physical clowning, everything is done with the absolute confidence that comes from a sure directorial hand and the trust of the cast.

We Won’t Pay, We Won’t Pay! runs through November 22nd at Mixed Blood in Minneapolis. For more information and to purchase tickets go to https://franktheatre.org/event/we-wont-pay/

Don’t forget to keep an eye on the new website  79 Seconds on Stage a free and full guide to local theatre in the Twin Cities.

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