The Harlequinade Clowns - Page 2
© Virginia Marin
Columbine wears a delicate djellabah of multi-colored silk which melts into the perfumed air. Golden hair hangs in ringlets under a wimple which highlights only her daintily painted features. Her hands are like rare and fragile bisque. What a pair! Columbine and Harlequin.
The Harlequinade, is loosly defined as a collection of tales, legends and myths recalling the escapades of Harlequin and Columbine. It is more accurately defined as an ending chase scene in Harlequin puppet theatre and pantomime in particular.
English pantomimes are divided into two parts. The opening is a fairy tale presented as a ballet. The closing is the harlequinade. These two are tied together by a mid-scene which presents a benevolent entity such as Mother Goose or a Fairy Queen. The story, however, always revolves around the favorites of Harlequin, Columbine, Pantaloon and Clown. Their plight is intricately woven into folktales and legends which cover all levels of society. A principal rule of any story is that Harlequin and Columbine must always escape mischief or harm. Two important Harlequin pantomines are Harlequin and Mother Goose and Humpty-Dumpty
Picasso (not intended for children) was enthraled with Harlequin who was his best known alter ego. Harlequin was accepted as having classical mythology ties. Picasso thought him to be associated with, if not actually, the god Mercury from whom came his powers. The artist believed Harlequin to be a real entity that possessed the secrets of Alchemy within his being. It was this knowledge, according to Picasso, that allowed him to become invisible and travel throughout space...
...But for most of us, the closest we get to Harlequin and Columbine and the other clowns is in puppet theatre and productions of the Nutcracker Ballet.
Harlequin is bold
And Harlequin never tells what Harlequin is told.
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