ComedyComedy

Prof. Shahid AzadProf. 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

Aristophane’s 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 Dell’Arte• 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 Dell’Arte

• 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 Dell’Arte – 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 he’s smart but isn’t

• CAPITANO- Arrogant with huge ego- Pretends to be brave and macho but isn’t- Usually pretends to be a soldier simply because he owns the uniform- Pretends he’s from another town and is very important

Commedia Dell’Arte – Zanni Characters

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

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.

Columbina- Sometimes a lady’s 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 falls…banana 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 exaggeration—broad 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. Chappelle’s Show, Mad TV, SNL

Forms of Comedy: Domestic Comedy

• Deals with family and family situations. • Found mostly in today’s Situation

Comedies (Sitcoms)• Can be families, neighborhoods, co-

workers

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 doesn’t like food to go to waist.• Malapropism: the use of a word sounding

somewhat like the one intended but ludicrously wrong in the context