Happenstance Theater’s
Death and the Fool
A Tarot-inspired mystery play full of slapstick comedy, music from the middle ages, puppetry and whimsy to drive away fear and offer relief from impending doom, just as folly brought light to the Dark Ages. As the Fool faces Death and seeks guidance, you too can consult the Oracle, be comforted by the High Priestess, trust in the Doctor if you dare, and give your troubles to the Crone.
"Transcendent and provocative…Happenstance provides immeasurable entertainment with its comedy, music, and artistry…
A characteristically compelling, intelligent, and thought-provoking hour of unique, outstanding, must-see theater."
- DC Theater Arts
"At times, the piece flickers with Monty Python-esque buffoonery, but it never stays in those brasher places for long. Mostly, it feels like the headspace between a lullaby and a dream, sometimes skimming the surface of strange, dark fears but always returning to quieter, comfortable rest."
- New England Theatre Geek
DEATH and the FOOL was originally adapted from Happenstance Theater’s ADRIFT | A Medieval Wayward Folly for the Maryland Renaissance Festival and then expanded to become this charming new touring show.
Performance is 50 minutes with no intermission
Ensemble/Performers
Gwen Grastorf, Mark Jaster, Sabrina Mandell, Sarah Olmsted Thomas & Alex Vernon
Puppets
Alex Vernon
Prop Design/Construction
Sabrina Mandell, Mark Jaster & Alex Vernon
Music Direction
Gwen Grastorf & Mark Jaster
Costume Design and Construction
Sabrina Mandell
Note from the Directors
Death and the Fool was originally adapted from Happenstance Theater’s ADRIFT | A Medieval Wayward Folly for the Maryland Renaissance Festival in 2024. Happenstance has now further adapted and expanded that version. As in our original production, we have taken inspiration from the imagery of Heironymous Bosch (1450-1516) and iconic characters from the Tarot card deck, which originated in Italy in the15th Century, to directly address issues of mortality. It is playful and serious, employing medieval imagery, music and instruments of the source material’s period, and invites your engagement in examining the great mystery of life and death.
- Mark Jaster & Sabrina Mandell
Visual Inspirations
Paintings of Hieronymous Bosch
Paintings of Pieter Bruegel the Elder
Das Narrenschiff by Sebastian Brant, published 1494
Tacunium Sanitatis - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tacuinum_Sanitatis
Splendor Solis - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Splendor_Solis
Rider-Waite Tarot
Music
Spiritus Sanctus Vivificans | by Hildegard Von Bingen from The Symphonia armonie celestium revelationum, 12th Century
Douce Dame Jolie | by Guillaume de Machaut, 14th Century
Saltarello| Italian, 15th Century
Other Inspirations