The Open Couple: Difference between revisions

The Open Couple
The Open Couple
Written by	Franca Rame; Dario Fo
Original language	Italian
Genre	Comedy (drama)

Browse history interactively

← Previous edit

Content deleted Content added

VisualWikitext

Inline

Latest revision as of 03:02, 22 December 2024

The Open Couple (Italian title: Coppia aperta, quasi spalancata)^[1] is a play by Dario Fo. As with some of Fo's other plays, it is a romantic play which was written by his wife Franca Rame in 1983.^[2]

The Italian censors restricted it to audiences over the age of 18 when Rame included as a prologue her monologue The Rape (inspired by her own rape).^[3]

Plot summary

In this farce about sexual politics in marriage, a man persuades his suicidal wife that an open marriage is politically correct and embarks on dalliances with younger women, to her dismay and fury. After deciding to be on her own, the tables are turned when she confesses to a new man, Nobel prize nominated professor and inspired singer-songwriter; it is the husband who becomes suicidal.^[4]

Cast

Dario Fo (Husband)
Franca Rame (Wife)

References

^ Mitchell 1999, p. 172
^ "Socialiststories.org". RevSocialist. Retrieved 24 February 2012.^{[dead link‍]}
^ Mitchell 1999, pp. 176–177
^ R, S. "Fingerview". Dd. Aa. Retrieved 24 February 2012.

[1] Mitchell 1999, p. 172

[Rvstor-2] "Socialiststories.org". RevSocialist. Retrieved 24 February 2012.^{[dead link‍]}

[3] Mitchell 1999, pp. 176–177

[Hi-4] R, S. "Fingerview". Dd. Aa. Retrieved 24 February 2012.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+{{Infobox play
-'''''The Open Couple''''', as with some of [[Dario Fo]]'s other play's, is a [[romantic film|romantic]] play which was written with his wife, fellow leftist [[Franca Rame]]. It was written in 1983.<ref name=Rvstor group=>{{cite web|title=Socialiststories.org|url=http://socialiststories.org/content/open-couple-dario-fo-and-franca-rame|publisher=RevSocialist|accessdate=24 February 2012}}</ref>
+| name       = The Open Couple
-==Cast==
+| writer     = [[Franca Rame]]<br>[[Dario Fo]]
-* Dario Fo (husband)
+| chorus     =
-* Franca Rame (wife)
+| characters =
+| mute       =
+| setting    =
+| premiere   =
+| place      =
+| orig_lang  = [[Italian language|Italian]]
+| series     =
+| subject    =
+| genre      = [[Comedy (drama)]]
+| web        =
+}}
+'''''The Open Couple''''' ([[Italian language|Italian]] title: ''Coppia aperta, quasi spalancata'')<ref>Mitchell 1999, p. 172</ref> is a play by [[Dario Fo]]. As with some of Fo's other plays, it is a [[Romantic film|romantic]] play which was written by his wife [[Franca Rame]] in 1983.<ref name=Rvstor group=>{{cite web|title=Socialiststories.org|url=http://socialiststories.org/content/open-couple-dario-fo-and-franca-rame|publisher=RevSocialist|accessdate=24 February 2012}}{{dead link|date=December 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>
+The Italian censors restricted it to audiences over the age of 18 when Rame included as a prologue her monologue ''The Rape'' (inspired by her own rape).<ref>Mitchell 1999, pp. 176–177</ref>
-==Overview==
-In this farce about sexual politics in marriage, a man persuades his [[suicidal]] wife that an open [[marriage]] is politically correct and embarks on dalliances with younger women, to her dismay and fury.  After deciding to be on her own, the tables are turned when she confesses to a new man, [[Nobel prize]] nominated professor and inspired singer songwriter; it is the husband who becomes suicidal.<ref name=Hi group=>{{cite web|last=R|first=S|title=Fingerview|url=http://www.fringereview.co.uk/fringeReview/4000.html Story - fringereview|work=Dd|publisher=Aa|accessdate=24 February 2012}}</ref>
+==Plot summary==
-==Other plays by Dario Fo==
+In this farce about sexual politics in marriage, a man persuades his [[suicidal]] wife that an open [[marriage]] is politically correct and embarks on dalliances with younger women, to her dismay and fury.  After deciding to be on her own, the tables are turned when she confesses to a new man, [[Nobel prize]] nominated professor and inspired singer-songwriter; it is the husband who becomes suicidal.<ref name=Hi group=>{{cite web|last=R|first=S|title=Fingerview|url=http://www.fringereview.co.uk/fringeReview/4000.html|work=Dd|publisher=Aa|accessdate=24 February 2012}}</ref>
- ''Note: These are the English names of the works.''
-===1950 - 1959===
-*''[[Archangels Don't Play Pinball]]'' (1959)<ref name=Luc>{{cite web|last=Fo|first=Dario|title=Plays|url=http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20100302111924AAKChIg|publisher=Lucas|accessdate=29 February 2012}}</ref>
-===1960 - 1969===
-*''[[He Had Two Pistols with White and Black Eyes]]'' (1960)<ref name=Luc>{{cite web|last=Fo|first=Dario|title=Plays|url=http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20100302111924AAKChIg|publisher=Lucas|accessdate=29 February 2012}}</ref>
-*''[[He Who Steals a Foot is Lucky in Love]]'' (1961)<ref name=Luc>{{cite web|last=Fo|first=Dario|title=Plays|url=http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20100302111924AAKChIg|publisher=Lucas|accessdate=29 February 2012}}</ref>
-*''[[Isabella, Three Tall Ships, and a Con Man]]'' (1963) <ref name=Luc>{{cite web|last=Fo|first=Dario|title=Plays|url=http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20100302111924AAKChIg|publisher=Lucas|accessdate=29 February 2012}}</ref>
-*''[[Mistero Buffo]]'' (''Comic Mystery'', 1969)<ref name=Luc>{{cite web|last=Fo|first=Dario|title=Plays|url=http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20100302111924AAKChIg|publisher=Lucas|accessdate=29 February 2012}}</ref>
-*''[[The Worker Knows 300 Words, the Boss 1000, That's Why He's the Boss]]'' (1969) <ref name=Luc>{{cite web|last=Fo|first=Dario|title=Plays|url=http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20100302111924AAKChIg|publisher=Lucas|accessdate=29 February 2012}}</ref>
-===1970 - 1979===
-*''[[Accidental Death of an Anarchist]]'' (1970) <ref name=Luc>{{cite web|last=Fo|first=Dario|title=Plays|url=http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20100302111924AAKChIg|publisher=Lucas|accessdate=29 February 2012}}</ref>
-*''[[Fedayin (play)|Fedayin]]'' (1971) <ref name=Luc>{{cite web|last=Fo|first=Dario|title=Plays|url=http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20100302111924AAKChIg|publisher=Lucas|accessdate=29 February 2012}}</ref>
-*''[[We Won't Pay! We Won't Pay!]]'' (''Non Si Paga! Non Si Paga!'') (aka ''Can't Pay? Won't Pay!'') (1974)<ref name=Luc>{{cite web|last=Fo|first=Dario|title=Plays|url=http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20100302111924AAKChIg|publisher=Lucas|accessdate=29 February 2012}}</ref>
-*''[[Mama's Marijuana is the Best]]'' (1976) <ref name=Luc>{{cite web|last=Fo|first=Dario|title=Plays|url=http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20100302111924AAKChIg|publisher=Lucas|accessdate=29 February 2012}}</ref>
-*''[[All House, Bed, and Church]]'' (1977) <ref name=Luc>{{cite web|last=Fo|first=Dario|title=Plays|url=http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20100302111924AAKChIg|publisher=Lucas|accessdate=29 February 2012}}</ref>
-*''[[The Tale of a Tiger]]'' (1978) <ref name=Luc>{{cite web|last=Fo|first=Dario|title=Plays|url=http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20100302111924AAKChIg|publisher=Lucas|accessdate=29 February 2012}}</ref>
-===1980 - 1989===
-*''[[Trumpets and Raspberries]]'' (1981) <ref name=Luc>{{cite web|last=Fo|first=Dario|title=Plays|url=http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20100302111924AAKChIg|publisher=Lucas|accessdate=29 February 2012}}</ref>
-*''[[The Open Couple]]'' (1983) <ref name=Luc>{{cite web|last=Fo|first=Dario|title=Plays|url=http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20100302111924AAKChIg|publisher=Lucas|accessdate=29 February 2012}}</ref>
-*''[[Elizabeth: Almost by Chance a Woman]]'' (1984) <ref name=Luc>{{cite web|last=Fo|first=Dario|title=Plays|url=http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20100302111924AAKChIg|publisher=Lucas|accessdate=29 February 2012}}</ref>
-*''[[One was Nude and One wore Tails]]'' (1985) <ref name=Luc>{{cite web|last=Fo|first=Dario|title=Plays|url=http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20100302111924AAKChIg|publisher=Lucas|accessdate=29 February 2012}}</ref>
-*''[[Abducting Diana]]'' (1986) – Adapted to English in 1996 by [[Stephen Stenning]]
-*''[[The Tricks of the Trade]]'' (''Manuale minimo dell'attore'') [1987] (1991)<ref name=Luc>{{cite web|last=Fo|first=Dario|title=Plays|url=http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20100302111924AAKChIg|publisher=Lucas|accessdate=29 February 2012}}</ref>
-*''[[The Zeedonk and the Shoe]]'' (1988) <ref name=Luc>{{cite web|last=Fo|first=Dario|title=Plays|url=http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20100302111924AAKChIg|publisher=Lucas|accessdate=29 February 2012}}</ref>
-*''[[The Pope and the Witch]]'' (1989) <ref name=Luc>{{cite web|last=Fo|first=Dario|title=Plays|url=http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20100302111924AAKChIg|publisher=Lucas|accessdate=29 February 2012}}</ref>
-===1990 - 1997===
-*''[[A Woman Alone (play)|A Woman Alone]]'' (1991)<ref name=Luc>{{cite web|last=Fo|first=Dario|title=Plays|url=http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20100302111924AAKChIg|publisher=Lucas|accessdate=29 February 2012}}</ref>
-*''[[Johan Padan and the Discovery of the Americas]]'' (1992)<ref name=Luc>{{cite web|last=Fo|first=Dario|title=Plays|url=http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20100302111924AAKChIg|publisher=Lucas|accessdate=29 February 2012}}</ref>
-*''[[The Devil with Boobs]]'' (1997) <ref name=Luc>{{cite web|last=Fo|first=Dario|title=Plays|url=http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20100302111924AAKChIg|publisher=Lucas|accessdate=29 February 2012}}</ref>
-===1997 - Present===
-*''[[The First Miracle of the Infant Jesus]]''<ref name=Luc>{{cite web|last=Fo|first=Dario|title=Plays|url=http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20100302111924AAKChIg|publisher=Lucas|accessdate=29 February 2012}}</ref>
-*''[[Orgasmo Adulto Escapes from the Zoo]]'' <ref name=Luc>{{cite web|last=Fo|first=Dario|title=Plays|url=http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20100302111924AAKChIg|publisher=Lucas|accessdate=29 February 2012}}</ref>
-*''[[About Face (play)|About Face]]'' <ref name=Luc>{{cite web|last=Fo|first=Dario|title=Plays|url=http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20100302111924AAKChIg|publisher=Lucas|accessdate=29 February 2012}}</ref>
-*''[[The Virtuous Burglar]]'' <ref name=Luc>{{cite web|last=Fo|first=Dario|title=Plays|url=http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20100302111924AAKChIg|publisher=Lucas|accessdate=29 February 2012}}</ref>
-*''[[Francis The Holy Jester]]'' (2009)<ref name=Luc>{{cite web|last=Fo|first=Dario|title=Plays|url=http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20100302111924AAKChIg|publisher=Lucas|accessdate=29 February 2012}}</ref>
-==References==
+==Cast==
+* Dario Fo (Husband)
+* Franca Rame (Wife)
+==Further reading==
+* {{citation|first=Tony|last=Mitchell|title=Dario Fo: People's Court Jester (Updated and Expanded)|location=London|publisher=[[Methuen Publishing|Methuen]]|year=1999|isbn=0-413-73320-3|postscript=.}}
+==References==
 {{reflist|group=}}
+{{Dario Fo}}
+{{DEFAULTSORT:Open Couple, The}}
 [[Category:1983 plays]]
 [[Category:Plays by Dario Fo]]
 [[Category:Romance]]
-[[de:Offene Zweierbeziehung]]

v t e Works by Dario Fo
1950s	Corpse for Sale (1958) The Virtuous Burglar (1958) Archangels Don't Play Pinball (1959)
1960s	He Had Two Pistols with White and Black Eyes (1960) He Who Steals a Foot is Lucky in Love (1961) Isabella, Three Sailing Ships and a Con Man (1963) Throw the Lady Out (1967) Grand Pantomime with Flags and Small and Middle-sized Puppets (1968) Mistero Buffo (1969) The Worker Knows 300 Words, the Boss Knows 1000, That's Why He's the Boss (1969) Chain Me Up and I'll Still Smash Everything (1969)
1970s	I'd Rather Die Tonight If I Had To Think It Had All Been In Vain (1970) Accidental Death of an Anarchist (1970) United We Stand! All Together Now! Oops, Isn't That the Boss? (1971) Fedayn (1972) Mamma Togni (1973) The People's War in Chile (1973) Porta and Belli Against the Authorities (1974) Can't Pay? Won't Pay! (1974) Fanfani Kidnapped (1975) Mother's Marijuana is the Best (1976) Let's Talk About Women (1977) All House, Bed and Church (1977) The Tale of a Tiger (1978)
1980s	Trumpets and Raspberries (1981) The Open Couple (1983) Elizabeth: Almost by Chance a Woman (1984) The Tricks of the Trade (TV, 1985) Hellequin, Harlekin, Arlecchino (1985) Abducting Francesca (1986) The First Miracle of the Infant Jesus (TV, 1987) Letter from China (1989) The Story of Qu (1989) The Wanted Man (1989) The Pope and the Witch (1989)
1990s	Hush! We're Falling! (1990) Johan Padan and the Discovery of the Americas (1992) Seventh Commandment: Steal a Bit Less No. 2 (1992) Mummy! The Sans-culottes! (1993) Sex? Thanks, Don't Mind If I Do! (1994) Leonardo: The Flight, the Count and the Amours (1995) The Devil with Boobs (1997) The Two-Headed Anomaly (2003)
Undated	Michele Lu Lanzone The Tumult of Bologna The Butterfly Mouse The Birth of the Jongleur One was Nude and One wore Tails
Related	"An Arab Woman Speaks"—monologue from Fedayn