T HEATRICAL GENRES Different types of theatre….

C OMEDY AND TRAGEDY …

COMEDY Definition – Comedy sees the humor and incongruity in people and situations.

C HARACTERISTICS OF COMEDY SUSPENSION OF NATURAL LAWS Actions do not have the same consequences they do in real life Example: Roadrunner, Tom and Jerry, Tommy Boy

C HARACTERISTICS OF C OMEDY CONTRAST BETWEEN SOCIETY’S NORMS AND THE INDIVIDUAL. Comedy develops when accepted norms in society and the events of the play cut against each other. Example: Shrek, Two and a Half Men, Big Bang Theory

C HARACTERISTICS OF COMEDY COMIC PREMISE An idea or concept which turns the accepted notion of things upside down and makes this upended notion the basis of the play. Comic premise is the foundation for an entire play Example: White Chicks, Father of the Bride

TECHNIQUES OF COMEDY VERBAL HUMOR PUN – a play on words Example of a Pun: A mushroom walks into a bar, the bartender asks “We can’t serve your kind here!” and the mushroom said, “Why not? I’m a fungi!” ha haaaaa! Malaprop – A misuse of words Example: “What are you incinerating?” instead of insinuating.

TECHNIQUES OF COMEDY COMEDY OF CHARACTER The discrepancy lies in the way a character sees his or herself or how he or she pretends to be as opposed to the way he or she really is. Example: Inspector Clouseau (Pink Panther Movies), Lt. Drebin (Naked Gun Movies)

TECHNIQUES OF COMEDY PLOT COMPLICATION Complications and revelations arise from coincidences and mistaken identity like turning up in the wrong house or bedroom.

CATEGORIES OF COMEDY FARCE – plot complications, exaggeration, physical humor, stereotyped characters BURLESQUE – knockabout physical humor, gross exaggeration, vulgarity SATIRE – uses wit, irony and exaggeration to attack or expose evil and foolishness DOMESTIC COMEDY – family situations (sit coms) PARODY – Making fun of another work usually to honor it.

TRAGEDY DEFINITION – A SERIOUS DRAMA THAT EMPHASIZES THE SOMBER (SAD) ASPECTS OF LIFE.

TRAGEDY TRIES TO ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS: Why are some people so cruel to each other? Why is the world unjust? Why are men and women called on to endure suffering? What are the limits of human suffering? To what heights of courage, strength, generosity, and integrity can human beings rise?

T RADITIONAL TRAGEDY Traditional Tragedy comes from ancient Greek Theatre, Shakespearean Tagedy TRAGIC HERO – this is an extraordinary person, person of stature, royalty TRAGIC FLAW – the hero suffers from a flaw in their personality that leads to their demise.

T RADITIONAL TRAGEDY TRAGIC CIRCUMSTANCE – The universe seems determined to trap the tragic hero in a fateful web. ACCEPTANCE OF RESPONSIBILITY – The tragic hero accepts responsibility for their actions and shows a willingness to suffer. WRITTEN IN VERSE

M ODERN TRAGEDY NO KINGS OR QUEENS OR PEOPLE OF STATURE WRITTEN IN PROSE RATHER THAN VERSE.

MELODRAMA GENERALLY STRIVES FOR FIGHT AND HONOR - speaks to the paranoia in all of us “I always feel like somebody’s watching me!” ENDS IN TWO WAYS: 1)Victim Dies 2)Victim is rescued

MELODRAMA THE AUDIENCE IS DRAWN INTO THE ACTION THE ISSUES ARE CLEAR CUT – RIGHT OR WRONG NO GRAY AREA THE CHARACTERS ARE EITHER GOOD OR BAD ACTION IS EXAGGERATED STRONG EMPHASIS ON SUSPENSE.

TRAGICOMEDY POINT OF VIEW ITSELF IS MIXED – IT IS A FUSION OF THE SERIOUS AND THE COMIC. IT’S FUNNY AND SAD AT THE SAME TIME. WE LAUGH AND CRY AT THE SAME TIME MOST TRULY CHARACTERISTIC OF OUR TIME

T HEATRE OF DIVERSITY Multicultural, multiethnic and gender theatre.

MUSICAL THEATRE A play that incorporates music, singing, and dance along with the dialogue

T YPES OF MUSICAL THEATRE OPERA – entirely set to music usually written in a foreign language OPERETTA – NOT entirely set to music – some dialogue – ususally romantic MUSICAL COMEDY – light comic story - more popular music – related to everyday life REVUE – no story line – collection of songs