Commedia Called and the Sacred Fool Answered
Commedia Called and the Sacred Fool Answered
And reincarnated as Zanni!
What the heck is Commedia and why do I love it?
For those not in the know, Commedia refers to that theatrical tradition hailing from the Italian Renaissance, Commedia dell’Arte. Most of the world’s physical comics and comedic actors get their shtick or inspiration from the stock characters of Commedia.
Including the Marx Brothers, Charlie Chaplin, Lucille Ball, Carol Burnette, among countless others.
True to sacred foolishness, the characters and sketches of Commedia were designed to poke fun at the powers that be’d in their times. The pomposity of the educated elite plays well as Il Dottore, the bluster and blunder of the military is captured by Il Capitan.
But the most powerful Commedia characters are the servants--Arlechino, who presaged the harlequin with those diamond-patterned clown outfits, Columbina the wisest character of all, and Zanni, the lowest, basest, and dumbest.
I adore playing Zanni.
Embodying his country-bumpkin ways takes me out of my life into pure spontaneous creative play. It’s a mind-altering deeply mystical transformation process for me. I love it.
Alana Fairchild, in her Oracle deck called Sacred Rebels, says of the archetype the Sacred Fool: It is the desire of life to operate radically through you so you become the conduit through which miracles and crazy synchronicities can occur.
She goes on to say: It’s time for you to play, to let life happen in an unscripted way. The more bizarre, left of field, unexpected, and apparently ridiculous, the better. It is the desire of life to operate radically through you so you become the conduit through which miracles and crazy synchronicities can occur.
In my Monday morning class, I get to be so hungry as Zanni that catching and eating a fly becomes a gourmet meal. That should qualify as bizarre, left of field, unexpected, and apparently ridiculous.
But then I as Zanni look at the fly and the fly buzzes for mercy. After Zanni eats him, gurgling sounds erupt from his belly. Once Zanni’s stomach settles and the flatulence abates, he ‘flies’ away, completing his transformation.
That may or may not be what Alana had in mind, but it works for me. The Sacred Fool has blessed this foolishness with a sprinkle of mystical transformation, giving wings to the moment. Even if they are fly wings. For Zanni, this may be as close to angelic as he comes. And for him that is plenty.
And if it’s good enough for Zanni, it’s good enough for me. This playful practice fills me as nothing else can. Don’t be deceived by the word fool. These characters are earthy-wise. Just ask Feste or Falstalff, Pompey, or Puck.
So let me surrender to those playful, sacredly foolish moments, imbue them with my love for Zanni, and know they and we are blessed.
Marilyn Flower writes humor to laugh the changes she wants to see and make. She’s the author of Creative Blogging: Ninja Writers Guide to Character Development and Bucket Listers, Get Your Brave On. Clowning and improvisation strengthen her resolve during these crazy times. Stay in touch!