The Accidental Death of an anarchist Bromley Little Theatre
11th January 2025

Originally set in Italy, based on a true incident in Milan in 1969, this English adaption of Dario Fo’s play is by Tom Basden. I didn’t read director Pauline Armour's notes until after I’d seen it so I have to say in spite of the fact it appears to be just a farcical comedy the underlying matter of police and other corruption is cleverly made very clear so job well done!
A maniac has been arrested for impersonating various professional people and while being interviewed by police manages to pretend to be a judge who is reinvestigating “the accidental death of the anarchist” who had been arrested and died after jumping out of a window. The Maniac’s gifted way with words and fast talking confuses them and they find they are contradicting their statements and possibly admitting to murder - did he jump or was he pushed? There is so much more but it would take too many words!
The whole cast are amazing as always in this hilarious dark comedy but special mention has to be made of Robert O’Neill who is absolutely incredible as the fast talking, remarkably agile Maniac. How does he remember all those lines without faltering? What a wonderful start to 2025. Several of our group said it is the best production they’ve ever seen at BLT and that is praise indeed.
Contributed by Pat Ward