Drama. Translated from the French by David Willinger. Michel de Ghelderode (1898-1962) was a Belgian playwright who is ranked by many as a key member of the international avant-garde, on par with Beckett, Brecht, Ionesco, Genet and Pinter. Writing most of his plays between 1918 and 1937, he wasn't discovered in Europe until after World War II, where he was hailed as the "Belgian Shakespeare," and in America until the 1960's. Both discoveries led to great, though still cult level, popularity. In the early 60's not a week went by without a production of one of Ghelderode's plays happening somewhere in the United States. This unique volume includes three plays--The Siege of Ostend, The Actor Makes His Exit and Transfiguration in the Circus--in their first-ever English translation.

Chez Torpe: Tallies the suicides in an inn whose owner insists on breaking down her guests’ defenses.

A dictionary of playwrights which contains 485 entries, each of which includes biographical information on the playwright, complete lists of published works (with dates of performance) and a bibliography of critical studies on the playwright.

Don Juan: An esoteric examination of the myths surrounding the classic antihero Don Juan and the hypocrisy of religious life, morals, and gender roles in Spain's golden age.

Condemns and exposes barricades and prisons.