Review: They’ve Stolen Mussolini, Bridewell Theatre, Camden Fringe

In 1946, the unmarked grave holding Benito Mussolini was dug up by fascists led by Domenico Leccisi. The potential in this story is enormous and writer and director Luke Walden has taken this bonkers true event and built a very entertaining show around it. They’ve Stolen Mussolini neatly balances slapstick with moments of seriousness and commentary on the persistence and resurgence of far-right politics with vile fascistic beliefs. It’s really funny watching characters who take themselves and their ideology so seriously become increasingly ridiculous.

To steal the body, Leccisi (Franziska Szinovatz), based on a real life figure, is played as a true believer, prepared to follow Mussolini. He is gathering members for his “Fascist Democratic Party”. Szinovatz nails the zealotry, treating every moment as a holy crusade, no matter how absurd we get. The second party member is Rana (Tisa Kliček), written very much as the macho enforcer and leaning heavily into exaggerated male stereotypes. Kliček is particularly good while sparring with Lottie Dunkley, playing Parozzi, their verbal back and forth quite amusing but Kliček’s multi-roles rely too much on loud volume, leaving little room for nuance.    

Parozzi, the younger and newest recruit, really brings a youthful enthusiasm across and suggests naivety. Is he really interested in being a fascist and carrying out that ideology or is he just attracted to the shiny uniforms? The almost childlike enthusiasm is funny but becomes increasingly uncomfortable as it questions how easily someone so young can be drawn towards such extreme views. How much of that attraction is about the style and a sense of belonging rather than the ideology itself?   

Sunny-Lee van Dijk’s Sylvia, Rana’s wife, takes her devotion to Mussolini to another level. Her interest becomes sexual and hilariously over the top as she suggests pleasuring herself to a homemade Mussolini shrine while her husband is not home. It’s another strange personal motivation behind fascism, but again how much of the ideology is actually the attraction? van Dijk’s exaggerated enthusiasm brings a lot of laughter throughout.   

The stage is bare, chairs are carried on when needed for meetings and there are truly fantastic props (Izzy Walters). The use of cardboard and paper is inspired, bringing big laughs on more than one occasion. The use of such basic materials and the way the cast interact with the makeshift props perfectly matches the story, where the would-be fascist revolutionaries take themselves way more seriously than anyone else does.    

For a young company debuting a new show, this just screams potential. There are moments where it hits that potential really well but other moments where it feels frustratingly just out of reach. The satire and much of the fantastic physical comedy is occasionally let down by a looseness. The evening often feels like its flow never gets running smoothly. At the moment, the ambition outweighs the execution.  

Writer and Director: Luke Walden
Stage Manager & Props: Izzy Walters
Lighting & Sound Technician: Kimber Wright
Pirate Queen Productions

‘They’ve Stolen Mussolini’ has completed its London run.