Laughs aren’t plentiful in “Anarchist”

“Accidental Death of an Anarchist”

Through April 4

Pittsburgh Public…

“Accidental Death of an Anarchist”

Through April 4

Pittsburgh Public Theater

621 Penn Ave., Downtown

(412) 316-1600

Pittsburgh Public Theater’s latest production, “Accidental Death of an Anarchist,” tries to show the funnier side of the world of government corruption, media manipulation and, of course, anarchy.

The show tells the story of a crooked police force in Italy that is trying to pull off their biggest cover-up ever. As far as the public knows, a suspected anarchist was being questioned in police custody when he suddenly jumped out the window and fell to his death. The fall is ruled a suicide, and the case is closed. But then enters “The Maniac.”

The Maniac (Robert Dorfman) is a crazed madman who comes across the actual files of the anarchist’s case. The facts don’t seem to match up, and he intends to find out the truth. Using a few clever disguises and the help of a newspaper reporter, he uncovers a web of lies within the case.

While the plot may not sound funny, the script by Dario Fo combines over-the-top characters and quick, witty dialogue to ensure a few laughs on the way. Fo’s Italian script was translated and adapted for this production by Ron Jenkins, and the latter does a nice job of updating cultural references within the play. What would a play about government corruption be without mention of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger?

The bulk of the play rests on the role of the Maniac, and Dorfman does his best to keep the crowd entertained. Looking a little like Martin Short, Dorfman uses crazed eyes and wild gestures to bring out the Maniac. His lines come spewing out of his mouth at auctioneer speed. And while he’s certainly crazy, it’s hard to keep up with what he’s saying.

The rest of the cast do their best to match Dorfman’s antics, but many times they just come across looking like slapstick sidekicks. Sean Runnette holds his own against Dorfman in his role as Inspector Bertozzo. Unfortunately, he’s missing from the middle of the show.

The comedy in the show is also missing at times. The humor seems to come in waves, and there aren’t enough consistent funny moments. The highlight of “Accidental Death of an Anarchist” is a wonderfully performed musical number halfway through the show. The actors sing a medley of tunes, by artists ranging from Buffalo Springfield to the Rolling Stones, that makes the entire audience laugh uproariously. Unfortunately, it only lasts about five minutes.