Michel de GHELDERODE
(1898 - 1962)
Belgian dramatist, writer and journalist. Born Adémar-Adolphe-Louis Martens in Brussels April 3, 1898. Died Brussels April 1, 1962
PLAYS
An accurate bibliography of Ghelderode's dramatic work has yet to be compiled. Many of the plays are probably still unpublished.
- La mort regarde d la fenétre (Death Looks In at the Window). Play. Written 1918. Produced 1918.
- Piet Bouteille. Dramatic moment, 1 act. Written 1918. Produced Brussels, Théâtre Royal du Pare, Apr. 2, 1931.
- Le repas des fauves (The Beasts' Meal). Play. Written 1918. Produced 1919.
- Le miracle dans le fauborg (The Miracle in the Suburbs). Play, 1 act. Written 1918. Performed Brussels, 1928.
- Les vieillards (The Old Men). Drama, 1 act. Written 1919. Published 1924.
- Le cavalier bizarre (The Strange Rider). Sketch, 1 act. Written 1920. Published 1938.
- Oude Piet (Old Piet). Play. Written 1920. Published 1925. Produced Antwerp, Ouvriers de la Renaissance, 1925. Later retitled Piet Bouteille.
- Un soir de pitié (A Night of Pity). Play, 1 act. Written 1921. Published 1929.
- La farce de la Mort qui faillit trépasser (The Farce about Death Who Almost Died). Play. Written 1924? Published 1952. Produced Brussels, Vlaamse Volkstoneel, Nov. 19, 1925.
- Le mystère de la passion de Notre Seigneur Jésus-Christ (The Mystery of the Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ). Play. Written 1924? Published 1925. Produced Brussels, Théâtre des Marionnettes de Toone, Mar. 30, 1934.
- Têtes de bois (Blockheads). Short play. Written 1924.
- La mort du Docteur Faust (The Death of Doctor Faust). Music-hall tragedy, prologue and 3 acts. Written 1925. Published 1926. Produced Paris, Théâtre Art et Action, Jan. 27, 1928.
- Trois acteurs, un drame (Three Actors and Their Drama). Dramatic comedy, 1 act. Written 1926. Produced Brussels, Théâtre Royal du Parc, Apr. 2, 1931.
- La vie publique de Pantagleize (The Public Life of Pantagleize). Play, 1 act. Written 1926. Published 1954.
- Vénus. Tragifarce, 1 act. Written 1926. Published 1927.
- Images de la vie de St François d'Assise (Images of the Life of St. Francis of Assisi). Play. Written 1927. Published 1928 (in Flemish). Produced Brussels, Vlaamse Volkstoneel, Feb. 2, 1927.
- Christophe Colomb (Christopher Columbus). Dramatic fairy tale, 3 scenes. Written 1927. Produced Paris, Théâtre Art et Action, Oct. 25, 1929.
- Escurial. Drama, 1 act. Written 1927. Published 1928. Produced Brussels, Théâtre Flamand, Jan. 12, 1929.
- Barabbas. Drama, 3 acts. Written 1928. Published 1932. Produced Brussels, Vlaamse Volkstoneel, Mar. 21, 1928; Brussels, Théâtre Résidence, Jan. 8, 1934.
- Don Juan, ou Les amants chimériques (Don Juan, or The Fanciful Lovers). Play, 3 acts. Written 1928. Published 1928.
- Les femmes au tombeau (The Women at the Tomb). Drama, 1 act. Written 1928. Published 1934.
- La transfiguration dans le cirque (Transfiguration in the Circus). Play. Written 1928? Published 1928.
- Noyade des songes (Dreams Drowning). Plastic poem. Written 1928. Published 1930.
- (With Jean Barleig). La petite fine aux mains de bois (The Little Girl with Wooden Hands). Fairy Tale, 3 Acts. Written 1939.
- Le massacre des innocents (The Massacre of the Innocents). Play. Written 1929? Published 1929.
- Pantagleize. Farce to make you sad, 3 acts and epilogue. Written 1929. Published 1934. Produced Brussels, Vlaamse Volkstoneel, Apr. 24, 1930; Brussels, Théâtre Royal du Parc, Oct. 25, 1934.
- La tentation de St Antoine (The Temptation of St. Anthony). Written 1929? Published 1929.
- Fastes d'enfe" (Chronicles of Hell). Tragédie bouffe, 1 act. Written 1929. Published 1929. Produced Paris, Théâtre de l'Atelier, July 11, 1949.
- Masques ostendais (Ostend Maskers). Pantomime, 1 act. Written 1930. Published 1935.
- Godeliève. Mystery, 3 tableaux, a prologue, and an epilogue. Written 1930. Produced Ostend 1932.
- 31. Sortie de l'acteur (Actor's Exit). Drama, 3 acts. Written 1930. Published 1942.
- Le ménage de Caroline (Caroline's Household). Sketch, 1 act. Written 1930. Published 1935. Produced Brussels, Théâtre de l'Exposition, Oct. 26, 1935.
- Celui qui vendait de la corde de pendu (The One Who Sold the Hanging Rope). Farce 3 acts. Written 1930.
- Le club des menteurs (The Liars' Club). Play, 1 act. Written 1930. Published 1943.
- Atlantique. Melodrama, 1 Act. Written 1930.
- 36. Duvelor, ou La farce de diable vieux (Duvelor, or the Farce of the Old Devil). Play. Written 1931. Published 1931.
- Magie rouge (Red Magic). Play, 3 acts. Written 1931. Published 1935. Produced Brussels, Estaminet Barcelone, Apr. 30, 1934.
- La Couronne de fer-blanc (The Tin-Plated Crown). Farce, 2 Acts and 3 Tableaux. Written 1931.
- De sterrendief (The Star Thief). Play. Written 1931. Published 1931. Produced Brussels, Vlaamse Volkstoneel, Apr. 7, 1932.
- Le sommeil de 1a Raison (The Sleep of Reason). Play. Written 1931. Published 1967 (published in 1931 as De Zeren Hoofdzonden). Produced Oudenaarde, Dec. 23, 1934.
- La grande tentation de Saint Antoine (The Great Temptation of Saint Anthony). Burlesque cantata. Written 1932. Published 1932. Produced 1957.
- La ronde de nuit (The Night Watch). Pseudodrama for marionettes. Written 1932.
- La nuit de mai (The Night in May). Drama for marionettes. Written 1932.
- Pike anatomique (Anatomical Play). Written 1932?
- Le marchand de reliques (The Relic Dealer). Pseudodrama. Written 1932.
- Casimir de l'Academie... (Casimir of the Academy). Pseudodrama. Written 1932.
- Paradis presque perdu (Paradise Almost Lost) Mystery. Written 1932.
- Genéalogie (Geneology). Pseudodrama. Written 1932.
- Les aveugles (The Blind Men). Morality, 1 act. Written 1933. Published 1936. Produced Paris, Théätre de Poche, July 5, 1956.
- Le soled se couche (The Sun Sets). Drama, 9 scenes. Written 1933. Published 1942. Produced Brussels, Théâtre Royal Flamand, Jan. 23, 1951.
- Le Chagrin d'Hamlet (Hamlet's Grief). Written 1933? Published 1933.
- Le siege d'Ostende (The Siege of Ostend). Military farce. Written 1933.
- Arc-en-ciel (Rainbow). Fairy tale. Written 1933? Published 1933.
- Adrian et jusemina. Divertissement, 1 act. Written 1934. Published 1935. Produced Brussels, Théâtre Residence, Jan. 19, 1952.
- La balade du grand macabre; La grande kermesse (The Grand Macabre 's Stroll). Farce, 3 acts. Written 1934. Published 1935. Produced Paris, Studio des Champs-Élysées, Oct. 30, 1953.
- D'un diable qui précha merveilles (Of a Devil Who Preached Wonders). Mystery for marionettes, 3 acts. Written 1934. Published 1942.
- Mademoiselle jafre" (Miss Jairus). Mystery, 4 scenes. Written 1934. Published 1942.
- Sire Halewyn (Lord Halewyn). Drama, 14 scenes. Written 1934. Published 1943. Produced Brussels, Théâtre Communal, Jan. 21, 1938.
- Le vieux Soudard (The Old Trooper). Cantata. Written 1935. Performed 1935.
- Hop, Signor! Drama, 1 act. Written 1935. Published 1938.
- La pie sur le gibet (The Magpie on the Gallows). Farce, 1 act. Written 1935. Published 1938.
- Le singulier trépas de Messire Ulenspigel (The Singular Death of Messire Ulenspigel). Play, 8 scenes. Written 1935. Published 1951.
- La farce des ténébreux (The Sinister Farce). Farce, 3 acts. Written 1936. Published 1942.
- L'école des bouffons (The School for Buffoons). Drama, 7 scenes. Written 1937. Published 1942.
- La folie d'Hugo van der Goes (The Madness of Hugo van der Goes). Play, 3 scenes. Published 1951.
- Le perroquet de Charles-Quint (Charles the Fifth's Parrot). Play, 9 scenes. Published 1951.
- Marie la miserable (Marie the Miserable). Mystery, 6 scenes. Written 1952. Produced Woluwé-St-Lambert, before the St-Lambert Church, June 14, 1952.
CRITICISM
- J. Francis, Michel de Ghelderode, dramaturge des pays de par-deça, Brussels, 1949;
- R. Iglésis and A. Trutat, Michel de Ghelderode: Les entretiens d'Ostende, Paris, 1956;
- P. Vandromme, Michel de Ghelderode, Paris, 1963;
- E. Deberdt-Malaquais, La quête de l'identité dans le théâtre de Ghelderode, Paris, 1967;
- J. Francis, L'éternel aujourdhui de Michel de Ghelderode. Spectographie d'un Auteur, Brussels, 1968;
- J. Decock, Le Théâtre de Michel de Ghelderode. Une dramaturgie de l'anti-théätre et de la cruauté, Paris, 1969;
- R. Beyen, Michel de Ghelderode ou la Hantise du Masque, Essai de Biographie critique, Brussels, 1971;
- A. Jans, La vie de Michel de Ghelderode, ange et demon, Paris, 1973; R. Beyen, Ghelderode, Paris, 1974;
- N. Castro, Le théâtre de Michel de Ghelderode, 1979.