Friday, September 11, 2020

Thumbing a Nose at Death

I am in the mood to reread Mistero Buffo. I barely remember it, just that it's an irreverent take off on Medieval mystery plays, thumbing its nose at Death & Taxes.


The British Library says
of the plays' seeming irrverence:
"Students of medieval mystery plays are often surprised, even shocked, by their humour. Noah is portrayed as a bit of a drunken fool, and his wife as a shrewish nag.
The York play of the Crucifixion, which concerns Jesus being nailed to the Cross, sees the soldiers arguing and making the audience laugh with their incompetence.

This might seem sacrilegious to a modern audience, but it was part and parcel of medieval life and the attitude of medieval Christians to their religion."
The girlettes say they want to put one on. I think it's the hats...


The thing is... I don't know. NOT to dismiss anyone's fear, but I've seen soooo much of it on social media, and I feel the need for a little mockery. 
 
Of course the Devil is dangerous, but he's also a Puffoon.

2 comments:

  1. I don't know this play but it sounds about right for our times. I'm with the Girlettes on them putting it on. They would make great Medieval Jester types! Racer and Minnie say "Hi" and that the word 'adoption' has been proposed and I am very interested!

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  2. Oh yes! The hats! the hats!
    (no big surprise I'm with the Girlettes)

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