Funny Business: An Introduction to Comedy with Royalty-Free Plays and Sketches

For big laughs, comedy relies on exaggeration, incongruity, automatism, character inconsistency, surprise and derision. Now a book that defines and demonstrates each of these devices with twenty-two short sketches and one-act plays. This unique overview of high and low comedy defines all comedy genres: absurdism, tragicomedy, farce and melodrama. The different types of comedy are compared to show the differences of each form. A discussion precedes each type of comedy illustrated, explaining the comic devices used. Following each sketch or play are notes reviewing what must be considered for acting the roles and preparing the total production. The book explains why references to events, places and people, both past and present, are so important to each play or sketch. The reader will find many insights along the way about how to write and perform each comedy style successfully. The wide variety of scripted drama material included makes the book very user-friendly for teaching, acting practice and live presentations. All characterizations are appropriate student actors in their teens or twenties.