Introduction
In the Broadway musical, The Addams Family, Gomez Addams says,
"Hector Fernando Escondido Chimichanga, a man hated by the church but clever with a quip. In fact, upon being burned alive he said to the priest, 'keep it pink in the middle, a little crispy on the outside!'"
At first glance, this statement doesn't seem very funny. But, would you believe this is an example of comedy?
In the previous lesson you learned about comedy, and we discussed what characteristics make a comedy. Remember that we also discussed that not all comedy makes you want to burst out with a belly laugh. In this lesson, we will discuss some of the many types of comedy.
Cast of a TV version of The Addams Family from 1965. Image by Northridge Alumni Bear Facts is licensed under CC BY-ND 2.0
Following successful completion of this lesson, students will be able to...
- Define dark comedy, fantasy, farce, high comedy, low comedy, middle comedy, romantic comedy, satire, sentimental comedy, and travesty.
- Compare the different types of comedy.
- Create and idea for a comedy.
Essential Questions
- Why is it important for different genres of theatre to be created and produced?
Enduring Understandings
- Different theatre genres appeal to different audiences.
The above objectives correspond with the Alabama Course of Study: Theatre Proficient standards: 16, 18, 20.
