HISTORICAL CONTEXT

Question 1

When was the play first performed?

Answer 1

December 1970

Question 2

What did many on the left favour ?

Answer 2

Revolution over reform

Question 3

How many bomb attacks took place in Italy from 1969-70?

Answer 3

173 bomb attack occurred in little more than a year

Question 4

When and where was the bombing in ADOAA?

Answer 4

WHERE: National Agricultural Bank in Piazza Fontana in Milan

WHEN: December, 1969

Question 5

What was Fo in terms of his placement on the political spectrum?

Answer 5

A communist who was constantly at odds with the right wing authoritarian state

He wanted to attack fascism and Christian democracy

Seen as a leading modern political satirist

Question 6

What is the play rooted in ?

Answer 6

Left wing political struggle agaisnt injustice, oppression and corruption

Question 7

Who is the dead archaist ?

Answer 7

Giuseppe ‘pino’ Pinelli

At some point during his questioning he fell to his death

Question 8

What did Lotta Continua do ?

Answer 8

As a newspaper they accused the police inspector Calabresi of killing Pinelli
The subsequent court case forms the backdrop for Fos political satire

Question 9

What does ADOAA ask the audiance?

Answer 9

To consider a number of political question
‘Is it right to kill an innocent man with authority acting without consequence’

Question 10

When was the broadway debut?

Answer 10

November 1984