SocialistStories حكايات اشتراكية

As with some of Dario Fo's plays this one, The Open Couple, was written with his wife, fellow leftist Franca Rame. In the original productions of this play Fo played the "Man" and Rame played the "Woman." This play is much shorter than the previous plays I have posted by Dario Fo, it was written in 1983 and varies from the previous plays in that it does not focus as much on working class struggle, rather it focuses it's attention on the issues of sexism and marriage. This only makes sense given the enormous downturn in working class struggle in 80's Italy.

The issues brought up in this play were of great interest to me, and I think they are dealt with very well. I have never been fond of the institution of marriage, but i never really took to the idea of "open marriages" or "free love" either. I have always thought that both the former and the latter are just different ways of oppressing women. I mean i don't think i need to repeat what thousands of others have said against marriage, the way women re treated as capital, the oppressive economic relations behind them, abuse, etc. But "open marriages" and "free love" seem just as stupid to me. I mean, obviously we want the human race to continue, so there has to be babies, right? Who is to take care of them if their father was a stranger? The mother of course. In other words, the woman will, as always, be forced to be the raiser of children, and beast of burden, and probably more so than traditional marriages: objects to be used for the sexual pleasure of men.

In my mind the only logical and just relationship between a woman and a man would have to be one where they are sexual exclusive to one another, share EQUALLY all responsibilities, such as cleaning, cooking, child care, generating of income, etc, treat each other with respect and love, and any less in my mind should be condemned. And im not supporting marriage, there are many people who have lived together their who lives, had children, and were never formally married. And in relationships as i mentioned there is really no real need to get married, only to make a commitment to each other.

Anyway these are the types of issues brought up in the play, and i hope i will get some comments on this issue. Enjoy the play comrades:

Liberation:

The Open Couple - Dario Fo and Franca Rame.pdf