No Pay? No Way! – REVIEW

Italian writer, activist, satirist and social commentator, Dario Fo wrote Non Si Paga, Non Si Paga!  in 1974, when Italy was in the throes of political corruption, inflation, poor working conditions, and general dismay. The play became a huge hit and went on to be translated into several languages, becoming a staple in company repertoires ever since. 

This particular version by Sydney Theatre Company, from a translation by Marieke Hardy, had its original season interrupted by the Covid lockdowns. Anyone who was lucky enough to see it before it closed gave it two solid thumbs up. 

It returns with the same production and many of the original cast members, and the play’s themes make it even more relevant now.

Set in a housing estate in a low-income neighbourhood, the story revolves around two couples, the middle-aged Antonia (Mandy McElhinney) and Giovanni ( Glenn Hazeldine), and newly-weds, Margherita (Emma Harvie) and Luigi (Roman Delo).

We begin with Antonia and Margherita in Antonia’s apartment. Antonia regales Margherita with the tale of a dramatic uprising at the local supermarket, where women, appalled by yet another price increase, decide to help themselves to the shelves. 

Antonia knows that Giovanni, a staunch union man and stickler for rules, would not approve of the theft, so she hides some bags under her bed and asks Margherita to take a few to her own apartment.

A sudden knock at the door causes the two women to panic, and Antonia instructs Margherita to hide the bags under her overcoat. This makes her look pregnant. It’s Giovanni at the door and as he enters, Margherita hastily leaves, but not before Giovanni catches sight of her suspiciously rotund tummy. 

Shenanigans ensue, with the mock pregnancy being a catalyst for absurd situations and uproarious comedy. Aaron Tsindos makes several memorable appearances as a police officer, a police sergeant and an undertaker. His physical comedy is superb, reminiscent of the comic greats of yesteryear. 

The humour in No Pay? No Way! is a delightful mix of one-liners, situation comedy, slapstick, and pantomime. It all becomes very meta in the second half — no spoilers. 

The set is very clever, with Antonia and Giovanni’s flat being presented as three adjacent rooms: bedroom, kitchen, lounge-room, plus a closet and the hint of a bathroom. These are actually three boxes on wheels that can be separated and moved around later.  The facade of another group of units at the rear of the stage helps complete the impression of a housing block. 

There are lots of jokes about unscrupulous supermarkets, cost of living, real estate and rental, and distrust of authority. (Trigger warning!). 

This is loads of fun with lots of laughs and even a bit of live music. 

Until May 11

Drama Theatre, Sydney Opera House, Bennelong Point

www.sydneyoperahouse.com