The Birth of Pantagleize: Michel de Ghelderode paints that idea, in words, in the “Epitaph for Pantagleize”, written upon the occasion of the plays’ first major production in England in 1957. When asked where this particular fellow came from, Ghelderode describes a blithe little chap walking across a city square of ricocheting gunfire in Flanders while reading a book, then stopping, opening his bumbershoot, and continuing on, unfazed. Some years later, he writes a play “about” this man – creating, some might say, a holy clown - and sets him within a provocative universe of revolution. It’s a commedia-inspired allegory; a poignant farce to make one sad.

Watching Laird Williamson’s fascinating production of the seldom-produced Pantagleize at the American Conservatory Theatre in San Francisco in 1979, taught me many things. I was haunted by its hero, created with incomparable ease by an artistic & comedic national treasure Raye Birk – as well as peopled by other stage greats, Michael Winters & Sydney Walker among them. I feel quite lucky to have witnessed it, that’s for sure. I knew at the time (within the gold-gilt-&-velvet embrace of the Geary Theatre) that it was a precious opportunity....a piece of latter-day Dada to bend my mind.

So here we are now. Again, in a time of naughty war. There’s that.
And with that, it’s a full “re-imagining” of the play we are working on, and yet also the masterpiece itself – Pantagleize - which we’ve kept firmly in mind. The chance to work with and study Ghelderode’s material appeals greatly, and to be in a classroom of acting students who might awaken this particular fable? - well, that has been a long-held dream. These are the private dreams which rattle a guy when he sees the vision happening; as we did this Autumn...in an unexpected venue, with a bunch of found objects, the imaginations of the audience, borrowed costumes, the incredible advocacy and artistry of master mask maker Jane Clugston. We got in the silly boat and bounced around on the sea of commedia and really experienced this dark circus in a deep way.

There is more to follow. And so, we say to the Fool, awaken!