Assembled during the Rane Council, the Stage of Fools is an underground theatre in all senses of the word -- they only assemble their stage in underground vaults, they move after every performance, and they put on shows that are scathing, relentless attacks on those that run the city; it's no wonder they move locations after every performance. For all their villification of the powers that be -- and for over forty-five years, Des Fous have mercilessly mocked every Council and its members -- the catchy musicals are tolerated by the public because of a combination of 'taking part in a forbidden act', 'watching a carriage wreck', and 'laugh-out-loud fun'.
Flyers advertising shows go up only a day beforehand, and 'ushers' appear in various locations, calling out, "Seating for Des Fous!! Five minutes!!" At the end of those five minutes, the ushers lead those they've gathered through unusual entrances and down illicit routes towards the chosen cavern, stopping roughly halfway there to collect the ticket fee of 3 coppers; typically, a bruiser or three joins the crier along the way, to make sure nobody tries to stiff him, and to take care of any potential troublemakers. The usher then escorts their portion of the audience the rest of the way to the cavern, and the play begins.
Once begun, five minutes before the end of the play (or when the crowd starts turning ugly) the ushers run back up their routes to the surface, using a watered-down blend of marker dye and glowing ink to mark the paths the audience must take to get to the surface.
The group was founded by an actor known only as Le Demi-Masque; in the years since, the eponymous half-mask has changed wearers at least three times, and is currently worn by a female elf. It is not known how the leadership is passed, or even how to become part of Des Fous; popular belief is that members of the Starving Artists and the Blood Rose are frequent recruitment targets for the group.
La Scène des Fous is, bar none, the best place to get your wallet lifted; rarely do the pickpockets steal from those who don't look like they can afford it, but most everyone else has their purse lightened. Some particularly wealthy people go home without any money at all, but are dazzled to have been part of the experience and count it money well-spent.
Following the glowing marker dye back to the surface counts as 'Public Path, Public Entrance, Unusual Exit, Well-Worn Path' for a DC 10 to get back out. Choosing the exit you entered from is, however, a DC 15 roll, resulting in plenty of people winding up far from home. Touching the wet path on your way out grants for 24 hours a +2 to Diplomacy when shown to people who are Indifferent or better towards you; however, with those connected to the Council, this evidence of attendance of Des Fous automatically turns their attitude towards you to Unfriendly; if they were already Unfriendly, they become Hostile.