More Notes On Comedy © 2006
Even a ‘Natural Born Comedian’ needs coaching and training. For actors, she/he must enter a state of fun or mirthful enjoyment in order to successfully put forth a funny line. An actor who lacks the ‘comic sense’ cannot be a comedian. Putting over a comedic bit is the result of a very carefully planned and practiced strategy. This is developed technique – and it is an individualized thing. Delivery cannot be under-acted or over-acted and for actors in a production, one’s character cannot know she/he is being funny.
Humour is based on the incongruities of character weaknesses, mistakes or other conflicts. Because of the character based nature of humour – the audience member responds to it with factors from within their own character and nature. This is why something is funny to one person and not to another. A comedic stageplay is tried and formulated material honed to affect the majority of the audience. This is why improv or even just standup comedy is so hard to do to for potentially very different audiences every night. Even a stageplay can hit this wall. (More than once I’ve had to ‘up the performance’ and modify it on a given night or matinee for a proven show and material after the first scene – both as an actor and a director.)
Making Audiences laugh more: neurologically, work from the stage left side of the stage (audience right)! (If you want them to cry - do the opposite)
Timing is essential. As a general guideline I like the general 2/3rds rule. When the audience laughter peaks one waits for it to drop about 2/3rds and the one delivers the next line. You ‘ride the tide!’ Fast delivery is the usual rule (but not fixed) and pauses for certain words and phrases should be calculated (and often is the job of the director versed in comedy).
Some notes on some (not all) specific comedy types:
- FARCE: The actor must totally immerse her/himself into the situation…. Mentally, Physically and Spiritually. Due to its nature it is run at full speed – catching the audience up with it.
- CHARICATURE / BURLESQUE: humor focuses on the ironic or the ridiculous aspects of character or a natural physical trait. It is one of the lowest forms of comedy – some relate this to what ridicule standup comedians do.
- SLAPSTICK: Though it goes back to the 16th Century and is obviously sadistic – but still works on some levels with some situations and audiences
- ‘SCHTICK’ aka known as ‘Hocum’ – is less crude that slapstick and is an almost predictable joke – but the audience loves it. Sometimes, in some situations, it would be missed if it were omitted.
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