THEATRICAL GENRESDifferent types of theatre….

COMEDY AND TRAGEDY…

COMEDYDefinition – Comedy sees the humor and incongruity in people and situations.

CHARACTERISTICS 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

CHARACTERISTICS OF COMEDY

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

CHARACTERISTICS OF COMEDY

COMIC PREMISEAn 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 CHARACTERThe 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 COMPLICATIONComplications 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?

TRADITIONAL 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.

TRADITIONAL 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

MODERN 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 Dies2)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 EXAGGERATEDSTRONG 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

THEATRE OF DIVERSITY

Multicultural, multiethnic and gender theatre.

MUSICAL THEATRE

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

TYPES 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