Year 8 Unit 2

COMEDY!

Lesson 1:What is Comedy?

“Comedy is an essential part of any play. Without light how

can we possibly create shadow? It is like a painter

rejecting yellow.” [Alan Ayckbourn]

Types of Comedy? SITUATION COMEDY SLAPSTICK HUMOUR ZANY COMEDY SATIRE SPOOF BLACK

COMEDY

What others can you think of?

Lesson Challenge……• To introduce the idea of

different types of comedy and begin to explore them

• To develop a scene using minimal dialogue

• To develop an improvisation based on ‘Mistaken Identity’

• What levels should we be working at in year 8?

PARK BENCH[Focus = minimal

dialogue/maximum physicality!]

Mistaken Identity!• -A workman mistakes a new boss

for a caretaker. • -A bank robber is mistaken as a

policeman or a customer. • -A wrestler is mistaken for a ballet

dancer. • -A visitor is mistaken for a long

lost relative. • -A patient is mistaken for a doctor. • (Focus = verbal comedy)

Plenary• What were the focuses of our

comedy scenes today?• Which type of comedy was

easier to create?• How successful have the

performances been? Why? • Who would you rate as a top

comedy performer and why??

•How are you better at Drama at the end

of this session?

Comedy Lesson 2: Slapstick• By the end of the lesson you will have a

clear idea about what characterises slapstick comedy

• You will have created your own slapstick scene using classic ‘slapstick’ moves!

What is ‘Slapstick’ Comedy?• Humour is very physical involving

mishaps to characters and/or objects

• Violent or harmful events have little or no realistic effect on characters

• Humour is based on the physical misfortune of others

• Plots contain objects breaking, spilling, falling and exploding

Examples….Laurel and Hardy Itchy and ScratchyMouse huntTom and JerryHome AloneMirandaMr Bean

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jhaqJXHIXiA

• Watch the following video clip to give you some classic ‘slapstick’ examples

KEYSTONE COPS!

How many things can possibly go wrong?

How Can the Performances Be Made More Effective?

• Timing• Choreographed movement• Clear characters• Clocking the audience• A clear storyline• High performance energy• SILENT!!!!

Packing for the Family Holiday…..

• Who are the characters and what are they taking with them?

EvaluationWhich performances were the

most successful and why? Which performance used the

style of Slapstick most effectively?

What targets can we set for individual performances?

Lesson 3 Physical Comedy• To introduce the genre of

physical comedy and its features.

• To develop a series of improvisations that use physical comedy effectively.

• To create a safe working environment.

A Successful Physical Performer Should…..

• Work in a safe environment.• Push boundaries.• Trust all other performers on

stage.• Use a high level of stage

energy and be committed to their work.

Example:

The Decorating Scene!• Someone steps in a pot of paint and

gets their foot stuck!• Maneuvering a ladder proves a little

tricky!• Someone hammers their

hand/foot/face!• Someone falls out of the window!• Someone ends up wrapped in

wallpaper! • The plaster is spilt!

What Has Made Us Laugh? • Unfortunate events?• Comedic Characters?• Bizzare/Rediculous Situations?• Other peoples misfortunes? • Do we see elements of

ourselves in the characters?

• How are we as performers better at Drama at the end of this session?

• Where might we be able to use physical comedy in the future?

Lesson 4: Verbal Comedy?

• Can you think of any characters that rely on the use of verbal comedy?

Vicky Pollard is a prime example. She has key phrases, (Yeah but, no but…) uses repetition, her pace and fairly extreme language to make her audience laugh.

• Take a look at the following ‘Lauren’ clip and try to identify the techniques Catherine Tate uses to create verbal comedy

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zV1zK8zRCPo

Superheroes! • You and your partner are both

superheroes (think of a comedy superhero name!) who have heard there is an emergency

• You both think you are the best superhero for the job so try to out-do each other with your many talents e.g.

• ‘Well my night vision goggles are much better than yours because…………’

• ‘’Well my protective suit has a go go gadget helicopter hat…….’

• How could the scene end to maximise the comedy?

Repetition to create comedy• In groups of 4-5 create a scene

which uses repetition to generate comedy

• Some suggestions:• An old people’s home where the

residents are hard of hearing• A restaurant where the waiter

keeps getting the order wrong• Can you think of any others?

• Why does the use of verbal repetition create comedy?

• [Think of Jim Carey in Ace Venturer: ‘Alrightethen!’]

Plenary• Which performer has stood

out the most during this session?

• Why is verbal comedy often considered to be challenging?

Lesson 5: Levels of Distress!

What are levels of distress?• There are 5 levels of distress• They build up gradually from

being relaxed and calm to manic and out of control

• Comedy comes from the scenario getting worse and the person’s reaction to it getting more exaggerated

• Why is seeing a character distressed funny?

1.You have just arrived at your Australian 5 star luxury hotel. The sun is shining, you have a drink in your hand – life is good!

2.You get an unexpected knock at the door telling you you are leaving for the jungle a day early – you feel unsettled

3.You arrive in camp only to find that your bag has gone missing and you will have to spend the next 3 weeks without it – you feel worried

4.You spend your first night in camp petrified by all the jungle noises – you feel very anxious

5. You are nominated for the first task which is being buried with snakes (your pet hate) – you totally freak out Sinitta style!

Can you create your own scene using levels of distress?

• Your challenge today is to create your own comedy scene using levels of distress

• A game show• A lift• A blind-date• Parents evening• A wedding• Remember the action needs to

steadily build up to level 5!

THE GAME SHOW• How do the characters react to

the tension in the game show? • Do the characters levels of

distress change as the show progresses?

• What happens to the characters levels as the prize is revealed?

Evaluation• Which group were the most

successful in conveying the various levels of distress?

• How did the use of levels create comedy in the scene?

• What drama skills did the performers have to use to show the change in distress levels?

•How are you better at Drama at the end of this session?

Comedy Lesson 6: FarceStudy the worksheet provided. -What is the primary purpose of

farce?-What is the plot usually like?-Why do the actors need to behave

seriously?-What is timing crucial? -Why must the audience be kept at

arms length?

• How can you successfully block a

script in a farcical style?

Assessment Preparation……What have you learnt during

this unit?