The First Miracle of the Infant Jesus

The First Miracle of the Infant Jesus is a monologue by Dario Fo, recipient of the 1997 Nobel Prize in Literature.

It was originally published in Italian language as Il primo miracolo di Gesù Bambino in 1977, together with "The Tale of a Tiger" [Storia della tigre], "Dedalo e Icaro" [Daedalus and Icarus] and "Il sacrificio di Isacco" [Isaac's Sacrifice] in the collection Storia della tigre e altre storie [The tale of a Tiger and other Stories].[1]

The pre-Christmas 1987 performance of The First Miracle of the Infant Jesus on Italian television's variety-lottery show Fantastico led to further accusations of blasphemy from the Vatican; Fo portrayed the title character deploying bolts of lightning to save other children from a bully.[2]

The story of the Baby Jesus is told from an unusual point of view. The young child finds that he has the power to do miracles. When the other children refuse to play with him, he takes clay, breathes on it, and turns it into birds that fly. He is also tempted to turn bullies into pillars of stone.

Ed Emery has carried out an authorised English translation.[3]

Further reading

  • Mitchell, Tony (1999), Dario Fo: People's Court Jester (Updated and Expanded), London: Methuen, ISBN 0-413-73320-3.

References

  1. ^ "Storia di una tigre e altre storie". Eclap: e-library for performing arts. Retrieved 1 August 2012.
  2. ^ Mitchell 1999, p. 195
  3. ^ Fo, Dario. The First Miracle of the Infant Jesus, trans. Ed Emery, Oberon Books, London, 1990. Online version at http://www.geocities.ws/dariofoarchive/jesus.html Retrieved 5 August 2012.
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Works by Dario Fo
1950s
1960s
  • He Had Two Pistols with White and Black Eyes (1960)
  • He Who Steals a Foot is Lucky in Love (1961)
  • Isabella, Three Sailing Ships and a Con Man (1963)
  • Throw the Lady Out (1967)
  • Grand Pantomime with Flags and Small and Middle-sized Puppets (1968)
  • Mistero Buffo (1969)
  • The Worker Knows 300 Words, the Boss Knows 1000, That's Why He's the Boss (1969)
  • Chain Me Up and I'll Still Smash Everything (1969)
1970s
  • I'd Rather Die Tonight If I Had To Think It Had All Been In Vain (1970)
  • Accidental Death of an Anarchist (1970)
  • United We Stand! All Together Now! Oops, Isn't That the Boss? (1971)
  • Fedayn (1972)
  • Mamma Togni (1973)
  • The People's War in Chile (1973)
  • Porta and Belli Against the Authorities (1974)
  • Can't Pay? Won't Pay! (1974)
  • Fanfani Kidnapped (1975)
  • Mother's Marijuana is the Best (1976)
  • Let's Talk About Women (1977)
  • All House, Bed and Church (1977)
  • The Tale of a Tiger (1978)
1980s
  • Trumpets and Raspberries (1981)
  • The Open Couple (1983)
  • Elizabeth: Almost by Chance a Woman (1984)
  • The Tricks of the Trade (TV, 1985)
  • Hellequin, Harlekin, Arlecchino (1985)
  • Abducting Francesca (1986)
  • The First Miracle of the Infant Jesus (TV, 1987)
  • Letter from China (1989)
  • The Story of Qu (1989)
  • The Wanted Man (1989)
  • The Pope and the Witch (1989)
1990s
UndatedRelated