Physical Comedy in Theater & Film Flashcards
“Tragedy is when I cut my finger. Comedy is when you fall into an open sewer and die.”
Mel Brooks
Comedian
Comedy
Written and Situational Humor
Physical Comedy
Extreme emotions and situations
Use of face and body for humorous effect
Where do we get our sense of humor?
The Greeks- fertility rites and feasts of Dionysus, the god of wine and fertility. Where old comedy comes from
Old Comedy
- Satirized political life. Made fun of public figures and events
- Resembles political cartoons of today
- The chorus played an integral part
New Comedy
- Focuses on the family and human relationships
- Chorus is not a big part
Commedia dell’arte
Stock Commedia
- Form of theater that begins in 16th century Italy.
- Drew upon some aspects of the New Comedy era.
- Performed by actors playing stock characters who were masked
- Traveled around the country to perform before nobility and the lower classes
Pantalone
- Bent over as if spine just went out.
Arlechchino
A servant
A Zanni
Colombina
A Servant
A Zanni
Slapstick
Arlechinni carried this object
Club like object made with 2 wooden slats
It produces a loud smacking noise when struck against something or someone, but causes very little physical harm.
Slapstick Comedy
A type of humor with exaggerated physical activity that pushes the boundaries of physical comedy
The Lovers
- Innamorati
- The only stock characters that DON’T wear masks
- Little or no physical contact
Lazzi
- “bit”
- Humorous, physical scene skit
- They could either be improvised or preplanned
- Performers had many lazzis that they could use at any time to energize an audience if they felt that the show was becoming boring
The Unspilled Wine Lazi
Holding a glass of wine, Arlecchino does a complete backward somersault without spilling the wine.
Chair Lazzi
Arlcchino pulls the chair out from under the Captain just before he sits down, causing the Captain to fall on his butt
The Shield Lazzi
Arlecchino, just before he’s about to get hit, grabs the nearest character and uses him as a shield
Rising Dagger Lazzi
When an attractive woman is talked about ot seen, Pantolene’s dagger begins to rise
William Shakespeare
Comedy of Errors
As You Like It
Midsummer Night’s Dream
Vaudeville
- Began around 1870’s-1880’s moving from saloons to concert halls
- A form of variety show that featured dance numbers, songs, burlesque acts and comedy performances
- Early versions were not fit for the civilized
Famous Vaudeville Performers
- Buster Keaton
- Charlie Chaplin
- 3 Stooges
- Marx Brothers
- Abott + Costello
Lucille Ball
- 1st woman to run a major TV studio: Desilu Productions
- 4 time Emmy Award winner
- Star Trek + Mission Impossible
- TV hall of fame
- Kennedy Center Honors Lifetime Achievement Award
