Franca
Rame, who performs and co-wrote Sex? Thanks,
Don't Mind if I Do!, is the co-author of many dramatic works, including
All Home, Bed, and Church (1977), The Open Couple (1983), Female
Parts (1986), A Woman Alone and Other Plays (1989), and Seventh
Commandment: Steal a Little Less (1992). An actress, dramatist, and lecturer
of international renown, Ms. Rame was born to a family of puppeteers who have
been practicing their art for several generations, and began her acting career
at the age of eight. She joined Dario
Fo in the theatre in 1951 (and married him in 1954) and has since collaborated
with him as stage performer, writer, and editor for dozens of plays and monologues.
Together Fo and Rame have established a worldwide reputation for biting satire in their writing and performances. The dangerous political issues that have been subjects of their theatre include corruption in the Catholic Church and the Italian government, police brutality, abuses in the prison system, violations of human rights, the Mafia, rape, and the denial of Italian women's access to divorce and abortion. Drawing on traditions ranging from the commedia dell'arte to puppetry, clowning, and storytelling, Fo and Rame have subjected every institution, political party, power broker, corrupt organization and controversial law in Italy to their formidable satirical powers. Over the years, they have been censored, banned, rebuked, denied visas - and played to packed houses all over the world.
American Repertory Theatre
