Non si paga! Non si paga!
Non si paga! Non si paga! ("Can't Pay! Won't Pay!") is a farce by Dario Fo (1926-2016)[1]
Contents
The original text
Written in Italian in 1974, it is a comedy about consumer backlash against high prices and was the first theatre piece performed in the Palazzina Liberty on 3 October 1974.
Translations and adaptations
Translated into English as Can't Pay? Won't Pay! by Lino Pertile in 1975.
An adaptation by Bill Colvill and Robert Walker, called We Can't Pay? We Won't Pay! ( ; introduced by Stuart Hood and Franca Rame.
It has also been translated as We Can't Pay? We Won't Pay! and Low Pay? Don't Pay!.)
This adaptation was commissioned by Omega Stage and first presented at the Criterion Theatre, London on July 15, 1981. It had previously been published under title: We Can't Pay? We Won't Pay!
A North American English-language adaptation, based on the was created by R.G. Davies around 1984.[12] The American premiere was performed by the San Francisco Mime Troupe.[13]
Performance history in South Africa
1982: Performed at the People's Space, Cape Town, opening on 19 January.
1982: Performed Upstairs at the Market, opening 22 March and directed by Dieter Reible.
1993: Produced as Can't Pay? Won't Pay! by CAPAB Drama, opening 21 August at the Nico Arena directed by Mavis Taylor, set design by Keith Anderson, lighting design by Jack Arnott. The cast: Camilla Waldman (Antonia), Jamie Bartlett (Giovanni), Anthony Bishop (Luigi), Gail Reagon (Margherita), Peter Butler (Sergeant, Inspector, Undertaker, Old Man).
1993: Performed at the National Arts Festival Fringe, directed by Warren Nebe. It was performed by a predominantly deaf cast using sign language.
Sources
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Can%27t_Pay%3F_Won%27t_Pay!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dario_Fo
Typed copy of an English version called We Can't Pay? We Won't Pay!, credited to Lino Pertile (translation), Bill Colville and Robert Walker (adaptation), The San Francisco Mime Troupe and Sam Smiley, with Copyright 1978 assigned to Dario Fo. Found in the Stellenbosch Drama Department archive in 2022.
1789 programme, 1981.
Market Theatre Annual Report 1983.
Can't Pay? Won't Pay! programme, 1993
Stellenbosch University Library Catalogue.
National Arts Festival programme, 1993. 173.
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