Workshop 2 – comedy

Learning intention

This activity aims to develop your performance skills in comedy as a way of realising Keene's work and engaging the audience in the cultural, social, political and personal symbolism in Life Without Me through the relationships of the characters.

Instructions

• As a class, read the quotation above from an interview with Daniel Keene. Which parts of the play are funny to you? Which parts got laughs? Did any parts get laughs? Do things need to get laughs to be considered 'comedy'?

• Reflect on the potential comedy can have to engage an audience in the issues and concerns of a play and its characters. A lot of this potential relies on a performer's skills in timing, pacing, creating contrast and playing with tension.

• In small groups of 3 or 4, browse through the play and select a 1 to 2 minute excerpt of a scene that you think has the potential for comedy. Focus on scenes that allow for comedic interpretation while still exploring the symbolism of the characters' cultural, social, personal, and political concerns. Note: this may not necessarily be in the dialogue, but implied in the stage directions or dramatic action happening while the dialogue is occurring. 

• Once you've chosen your scene, brainstorm ways to imbue it with comedy. Consider physical routines, unusual subtext, visual cues in gesture and design. Consider the characters' quirks, relationships, and the situational comedy that can arise.  Note: this part is difficult, as there is lots of choice and potential in comedic style, whether it's witty banter, physical humour, or absurdity. These choices may go along with Keene's intention, or play against it.

• Rehearse your selected scene, focusing on comedic timing, delivery, and audience engagement. Work together to refine your performance and remember to ensure that the chosen humour complements the cultural, social, political, or personal concerns of the characters present in your scenes.

• Each group will present their comedic interpretation of the chosen scene to the class.

• After each performance, engage in a class discussion. Explore how well the humour was integrated into the scene and how effectively it conveyed the cultural, social, political, and personal concerns of the characters. Discuss what worked and any potential areas for improvement.

Reflection

Reflecting on the activity's performances from your class, write reflections in your study notes based on the following questions (around 300 words total).

• How did infusing humour into your scene from Life Without Me provide insights into the cultural, social, political, and personal dimensions of the characters?

• What comedic elements or techniques did you find most effective in conveying the complexities of the characters and their relationships?

• Reflect on the audience's response during your performance. How did their reactions, including laughter, reflect the success of your comedic interpretation in addressing the play's themes?

You may also want to add this workshop evidence to you study notes (see the Study notes page).