(gentle music) - West minster Performing Arts presents "Accidental Death of an Anarchist," a bold political farce by Nobel Prize-winning playwright Dario Fo.

Joining us to talk about this timely and satirical production are Kristie Post Wallace and Trinity Medina.

Hi.

We're gonna start with you, Kristie.

So you're the director.

- Yes.

- You've directed this before.

- I have.

- But during COVID.

- During COVID, I did.

I worked with people when I was at the University of Washington.

I loved the play and I was so grateful when Westminster reached out for me to work on this, in person this time with their incredible students.

- Which is great, and tell us more about this play and why it's so timely now.

- Absolutely, so this play is funny.

A lot of people might hear the title and think that it's not.

It is based on a true event that happened in Italy about 55 years ago, and Dario Fo and Franca Rame, who wrote the play, were really big about getting information out there to the people about what actually happened, so it becomes a story about what is true, what is not true, who gets to be the bearer of that truth.

It's also a way to explore social issues, complex social issues through comedy.

It's really engaging because it is a farce, which means there's a lot of silliness, but then it turns around and it gives you a lot of provoking, critical thinking points that starts conversations.

And I think that's one of the biggest things that Utah audiences can gain out of it to compare what they were talking about 55 years ago, how does it still be relevant today?

Because it really is.

There are things every day in the news that I hear that I think, "Man, this is what the play talks about," so it's a great conversation starter.

- And Trinity, briefly, you play the Madman, how's that?

- It's been such a fun experience.

He is one of the craziest characters I've ever played.

He is a guy who goes into a police station and ends up getting caught, and because he gets caught, he decides that he needs to figure out all of this information, and so in doing so, he tricks the police with playing all these different characters.

It's so fun.

- Wonderful.

Well, it sounds great, and thank you both so much for being here and for doing the play.

Thanks.

- Thank you very much.

- And if you'd like to know more about that Westminster University production, "Accidental Death of an Anarchist," November 6th through 15th, the weekend, it's at the Jay W. Lees Courage Theatre on campus.

Go to westminsterperformingarts.ludus.

I'm Mary Dickson.

Thanks for watching "Contact."

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Hi, I'm Mary Dickson.

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