The Green Room - What makes a good comedy?

Jun 20^th, 2008 at 9:06pm

The Dark Knight Ex Member

Is it all about getting laughs, or should it still have a compelling story and characters like any other play (what I call "The smart person's point of view"). Thoughts?

« Last Edit: Jun 21^st, 2008 at 10:37am by N/A »

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Reply #1 - Jun 20^th, 2008 at 10:24pm

Tshep Offline
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It made me feel sad, and
just a little bit dirty.
Beebe, Arkansas

Gender:
Posts: 723

Quote:

Is it all about getting laughs, or yould it still have a compelling story and characters like any other play (what I call "The smart person't point of view"). Thoughts?

What makes a good ~~comedy~~ horizontal mambo? Is it all about ~~getting~~ having "laughs", or should it still have a compelling ~~story~~ passion and ~~characters~~ variety like any other ~~play~~ love-affair.

Of course comedy can be just about getting laughs.... the same way sex can be just about getting off.

.... But it can certainly be very much more.

They say, best men are moulded out of faults; &&And, for the most, become much more the better &&For being a little bad.

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Reply #2 - Jun 21^st, 2008 at 10:21am

Wc365 Offline
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The Random Element
West Punkt

Posts: 11610

Comedy should contain some kind of insight or commentary. The best comedians hold a mirror up to the audience and give them not so much a bunch of jokes and pratfalls, but show them a portrait of themselves.

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Reply #3 - Jun 21^st, 2008 at 10:31am

The Dark Knight Ex Member

Tshep wrote on Jun 20^th, 2008 at 10:24pm:

Quote:

Is it all about getting laughs, or yould it still have a compelling story and characters like any other play (what I call "The smart person't point of view"). Thoughts?

What makes a good ~~comedy~~ horizontal mambo? Is it all about ~~getting~~ having "laughs", or should it still have a compelling ~~story~~ passion and ~~characters~~ variety like any other ~~play~~ love-affair.

Of course comedy can be just about getting laughs.... the same way sex can be just about getting off.

.... But it can certainly be very much more.

So, in essence, there's a place for whores in either? Wink

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Reply #4 - Jun 21^st, 2008 at 10:37am

The Dark Knight Ex Member

Quote:

Comedy should contain some kind of insight or commentary. �The best comedians hold a mirror up to the audience and give them not so much a bunch of jokes and pratfalls, but show them a portrait of themselves.

We agree again.

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Reply #5 - Jun 21^st, 2008 at 10:42am

Wc365 Offline
All Access
The Random Element
West Punkt

Posts: 11610

Quote:

Tshep wrote on Jun 20^th, 2008 at 10:24pm:

Quote:

Is it all about getting laughs, or yould it still have a compelling story and characters like any other play (what I call "The smart person't point of view"). Thoughts?

What makes a good ~~comedy~~ horizontal mambo? Is it all about ~~getting~~ having "laughs", or should it still have a compelling ~~story~~ passion and ~~characters~~ variety like any other ~~play~~ love-affair.

Of course comedy can be just about getting laughs.... the same way sex can be just about getting off.

.... But it can certainly be very much more.

So, in essence, there's a place for whores in either? Wink

CHeap laughs, cheap sex. It's all a good time you may not remember in the morning.

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Reply #6 - Jun 21^st, 2008 at 10:43am

Wc365 Offline
All Access
The Random Element
West Punkt

Posts: 11610

Quote:

Comedy should contain some kind of insight or commentary. The best comedians hold a mirror up to the audience and give them not so much a bunch of jokes and pratfalls, but show them a portrait of themselves.

We agree again.

It was actually mildly stolen. I could quote it a bit better if i ever get my copy of The Watchmen back from that improv impressario I met...

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Reply #7 - Jun 21^st, 2008 at 10:46am

The Dark Knight Ex Member

Quote:

Tshep wrote on Jun 20^th, 2008 at 10:24pm:

Quote:

Is it all about getting laughs, or yould it still have a compelling story and characters like any other play (what I call "The smart person't point of view"). Thoughts?

What makes a good ~~comedy~~ horizontal mambo? Is it all about ~~getting~~ having "laughs", or should it still have a compelling ~~story~~ passion and ~~characters~~ variety like any other ~~play~~ love-affair.

Of course comedy can be just about getting laughs.... the same way sex can be just about getting off.

.... But it can certainly be very much more.

So, in essence, there's a place for whores in either? Wink

CHeap laughs, cheap sex. �It's all a good time you may not remember in the morning.

But if it's something really special and not cheap, you WILL remember it.

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Reply #8 - Jun 21^st, 2008 at 12:19pm

Tshep Offline
Ingenue
It made me feel sad, and
just a little bit dirty.
Beebe, Arkansas

Gender:
Posts: 723

Quote:

Tshep wrote on Jun 20^th, 2008 at 10:24pm:

Quote:

Is it all about getting laughs, or yould it still have a compelling story and characters like any other play (what I call "The smart person't point of view"). Thoughts?

What makes a good ~~comedy~~ horizontal mambo? Is it all about ~~getting~~ having "laughs", or should it still have a compelling ~~story~~ passion and ~~characters~~ variety like any other ~~play~~ love-affair.

Of course comedy can be just about getting laughs.... the same way sex can be just about getting off.

.... But it can certainly be very much more.

So, in essence, there's a place for whores in either? Wink

CHeap laughs, cheap sex. �It's all a good time you may not remember in the morning.

But if it's something really special and not cheap, you WILL remember it.

But it can be cheap and really fun... and memorable... therefore special.

And, there is at least a facet of whoring inherent in all theater (especially comedy).

They say, best men are moulded out of faults; &&And, for the most, become much more the better &&For being a little bad.

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Reply #9 - Jun 21^st, 2008 at 12:26pm

The Dark Knight Ex Member

Tshep wrote on Jun 21^st, 2008 at 12:19pm:

Quote:

Tshep wrote on Jun 20^th, 2008 at 10:24pm:

Quote:

Is it all about getting laughs, or yould it still have a compelling story and characters like any other play (what I call "The smart person't point of view"). Thoughts?

What makes a good ~~comedy~~ horizontal mambo? Is it all about ~~getting~~ having "laughs", or should it still have a compelling ~~story~~ passion and ~~characters~~ variety like any other ~~play~~ love-affair.

Of course comedy can be just about getting laughs.... the same way sex can be just about getting off.

.... But it can certainly be very much more.

So, in essence, there's a place for whores in either? Wink

CHeap laughs, cheap sex. �It's all a good time you may not remember in the morning.

But if it's something really special and not cheap, you WILL remember it.

But it can be cheap and really fun... and memorable... therefore special.

And, there is at least a facet of whoring inherent in all theater (especially comedy).

This is true. But there's a difference between a $1000 a night call girl and some $10 dollar bimbo you'd pick up on State Street.

Now we're stretching the the metaphor a bit, aren't we?

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