The freedom of expression and diffusion of art was so blocked in times of Soviet totalitarianism in the countries of so-called "real socialism" that our access to fundamental writers from that part of Europe was almost nil. Visniec perhaps I saw him name it that way, but nothing else. And less to know his work, as is the case of Old Clown Wanted.
Because of what you offer us in your very good post, @honeydue, this work develops a very ironic vision (between sarcasm and absurdity) about life in a closed society, in front of which perhaps we are left with a biting, desolate and, finally, sad laugh. Despite the distances, I thought of Heinrich Böll's novel, Opinions of a Clown.
Sometimes I think I have read an opinion of Milan Kundera, where he defended the rebellious character of laughter in societies like the Stalinists. Although sometimes laughter, like the clown, carries sadness inside.
Thanks for your post, @honeydue.
PS: About works from that time, I was thinking of Sartre's Flies and Camus' Misunderstanding (as well as Anouilh and Fo).