Writing Challenge 2016 #21 - 3 Lines and A Joke

NWC #21- "Three lines and a joke" DUE Nov 22nd at 8am

Comedy should strive for a joke every three lines, someone once told me. I don't know if you agree, but that's what we're doing today!

Tip- use asides

Tip- bad jokes can set up good jokes later--- it's about keeping a tempo

Bad word puns or rhymes can count- we just need to keep a clever sense of word play

Bonus- set it in a truly tragic and sympathetic situation THAT YOU'VE EXPERIENCED

WHAT'S THE POINT OF THEATER?

                          1

They want us to write comedy.

                          2

Dance, monkey, dance.

                          1

What's the point of comedy in a time like this?

                          2

If you don't laugh, you cry?

                          1

Aren't all times like this?

                          2

Please don't get existential on my now, we'll never make it.

                          1

We have a clown in the White House.

                          2

He's not even a sad clown, he's an angry clown.

                          1

Probably a serial killer clown by the time it's all over.

                          2

And when will it be over?

                          1

Four years, if we're allowed to have an election, that is.

                          2

He won't be that obvious.  Voter suppression is much more elegant, and effective.  You can almost convince people they had a choice.

                          1

I just keep waiting for his wife to admit

     (putting on a Natasha accent from Rocky & Bullwinkle)

she's plotting big trouble for Moose and Squirrel.

                          2

     (doing Rocky impression)

A-GAIN!  That trick never works.

                          1

     (doing Bullwinkle impression)

Nothin' up ma' sleeve.

                          2

     (doing Rocky impression)

And now here's something we think you'll really like.

                          1

Your democracy back!

                          2

Satire has only limited effect.

                          1

Satire's what got us here.

                          2

Supposedly neutering the guy with comedy routines -

                          1

Made him seem harmless, even kinda fun.  Sure, why not vote for the guy, what could be so bad?

                          2

Welcome to bad.

                          1

The artists better switch it up.

                          2

What's the point of theater, though?

                          1

It can adapt quickly when it needs to.

                          2

Unless you're an established theater with a previously announced season.  Then it's like steering a battleship.

                          1

Or a cow.

                          2

I suppose you could just chuck it, keep your audience on their toes, do things more immediately relevant.

                          1

They might appreciate you for it.

                          2

They might leave it droves.

                          1

It wasn't what they signed up for.

                          2

Say you could get something onstage quickly.  What are you trying to accomplish?

                          1

There's a reason dictators shut down the theaters.

                          2

Metaphor.

                          1

Free speech.

                          2

While we still got it.

                          1

It's getting people in a room together.

                          2

It's live.

                          1

It's breathing.

                          2

It's a communal experience.

                          1

Post show discussions?

                          2

If they're actual discussions, sure.

                          1

You need to have someone who knows what they're doing spurring the converation.

                          2

Guiding it?

                          1

Only if it gets out of hand.

                          2

Hopefully the play does the talking for you.

                          1

Time for the audience to speak.

                          2

Time for the audience to do.

                          1

Encourage them to turn on their phones.

                          2

Log in, sign on, poke the bear.  Hold the government accountable.

                          1

While we still can.

                          2

The government works for us.

                          1

At least we'd like to think so.

                          2

We pay their salary.  Time they started working for it.

                          1

No more Shakespeare?

                          2

Some Shakespeare you could tweak to make it relevant.  He was obsessed with politics and power and the wise use of both.

                          1

Maybe it's time to let the dead playwrights lie for a while.

                          2

Let the living writers speak.

                          1

Particularly the women.

                          2

The artists of color.

                          1

The queer.

                          2

The differently abled.

                          1

Those with different religions.

                          2

The straight white Christian men have the levers of government.

                          1

Again.

                          2

We need to work the levers everywhere else.

                          1

We shouldn't do theater just because we can.

                          2

We should do theater because we have to.

                          1

It won't reach a lot of people.

                          2

It'll reach the right people.

                          1

It'll reach enough.

                          2

It has to.

                          1

Or why bother.

                          2

There are stories that need telling.

                          1

There are people we need to see on stage.

                          2

We need to be reminded.

                          1

We need to be alert.

                          2

We need to be.

                          1

Together.

                          2

In the dark.

                          1

Or in the light.

                          2

In the theater.

                          1

Or in the streets.

                          2

Do you suppose the writer will give us names?

                          1

Eventually.

                          2

That's right.  They're on a deadline.

                          1

Names are for rewrites.

                          2

Right now we could be anyone.

                          1

And that's kind of the point.

                          2

Curtain up.

                          1

Light the lights.

                          2

Starting here.

                          1

Starting now.

                          2

You'll be swell.

                          1

You'll be great.

                          2

We can make this an exciting time to live through.

                          1

We just need to figure out what to say.

                          2

And how to say it.

                          1

And who to say it to.

                          2

Here we go...