Comedy

Prof. Shahid Azad

Greek Comedy
Origin of the word comedy comes from commos oides which means drunken revelry Comedy started as bands of singers making fun of others Developed from the satyr play which was a humorous story that followed a trilogy of tragedies in competitions such as City Dionysia Satyr plays were bawdy and political and would often offer suggestions to current and political problems.

Greek Comic Playwrights

Most famous Greek comic playwright was Aristophanes Considered a writer of Old Comedy Old comedy used bawdy comic characters and lavish costumes to satirize current affairs Aristophanes most famous play: Lysistrata: Summary:

Roman Comedy
Original Roman comedies used stock characters, bawdy events and obscene language. They were considered primitive to Greek comedy When Romans were exposed to Greek culture they mimicked Greek comedy Romans used Greek characters and locations to get away with political and social content i.e. the Son and the Slave (see picture at right)

Roman Playwrights
The only extant plays we have are from Plautus and Terrence Plautus wrote both old comedy and new comedy Most famous play = The Menaechmi The Menaechmi was adapted by Shakespeare into The Comedy of Errors Plautus play The Pot of Gold was adapted by Moliere into The Miser

Commedia DellArte
Commedia began in Italy in the 1500s Usually performed in the streets for the common people but it could also be performed at court as well Used improvisation that was guided by scenarios (outlines of a story or scene) Many commedia character types or stock characters have influenced modern characters of today. Highly physical form of comedy that required specific acting skills including acrobatics, dancing, and juggling. Characters in Commedia were referred to ask masks since the actors wore masks Characters in Commedia used lazzi - movements, tricks, and expressions that were unique to each character

Commedia DellArte
HIGH STATUS Characters: - Pantalone - Dottore -Capitano Inammorati - Young lovers who are in love with being in love. They are often the sons or daughters of a high status character like Pantalone or Dottore Often too absorbed with being in love to notice anything else. Servant characters the Zanni (this is where we get the modern word zany) LOW STATUS Arlecchino, Columbina, Pedrolino (also known as Pierrot), Pulchinella

Commedia DellArte High Status

PANTALONE - Sometimes portrayed as a mean or dumb old man - Sometimes a miser - Sometimes the father of the Inammorati - Usually concerned about status - Sometimes would want to marry the pretty young girl DOTTORE - A doctor that has no idea what he is doing - Often portrayed as out of shape or overweight. - If portrayed as a philosopher or academic doctor, he thinks hes smart but isnt CAPITANO - Arrogant with huge ego - Pretends to be brave and macho but isnt - Usually pretends to be a soldier simply because he owns the uniform - Pretends hes from another town and is very important

Commedia DellArte Zanni Characters

Pedrolino (also known as Pierrot) - Quiet or mute, appears dopey, usually feel sorry for him, can sometimes be smarter than people think. He wears a white simple mask and usually all white clothes.

Pulchinella - Grumpy, makes wise cracks, often chases pretty girls, mean to Pedrolino. Walks with a hunch back or has large stomach. Wears a mask with a grumpy face

Columbina - Sometimes a ladys maid. Usually smarter than those she serves. She can be considered a female version of Arlecchino

Comedy
Humorous drama whose characters, actions and events are intended to provoke amusement and laughter. Aristophanes: Lysistrata ( Classical Greece) Moliere: The Imaginary Invalid (17th Century France)

Characteristics of Comedy
Suspension of Natural Laws: In comedy, we do not fear for a person who trips and fallsbanana peels, slapsticks, Contrast between Individuals and the Social Order: the differences between basic assumptions about society and the events in the play. A ridiculous person in a normal world or vice-versa. Tartuffe by Moliere The comic premise: an idea or concept that turns the accepted notion of thing upside down.

Forms of Comedy
Farce: all forms of exaggerationbroad physical humor, plot complications, stereotyped characters. Simply for entertainment and laughter. Bedroom Farce: marriage and sex are objects of fun

Forms of Comedy
Burlesque: physical humor, gross exaggerations, occasional vulgarity. Historically an imitation of other forms of drama: Austin Powers and Scary Movie. Also became a term in the U.S. describing variety shows with low Comedy and attractive, half dressed women. Satire: uses wit, irony and exaggeration to expose or attach evil and foolishness. Chappelles Show, Mad TV, SNL

Forms of Comedy: Domestic Comedy

Deals with family and family situations. Found mostly in todays Situation Comedies (Sitcoms) Can be families, neighborhoods, coworkers

Forms of Comedy: Comedy of Manners

Focused on pointing out the peculiarities of the upper class. Stresses the use of witty phrases and comebacks rather than the use of physical humor.

Extra Terms
Low Comedy: Physical humor. Three Stooges. Bathroom Humor: bodily functions High Comedy: Brainy. Witty phrases and comebacks. Puns: A dieter doesnt like food to go to waist. Malapropism: the use of a word sounding somewhat like the one intended but ludicrously wrong in the context