A farce is a literary genre and type of comedy
that makes use of highly exaggerated and funny situations aimed at entertaining
the audience. Farce is also a subcategory of dramatic comedy, which is
different from other forms of comedy as it only aims at making the audience
laugh. It uses elements like physical humor, deliberate absurdity,
bawdy jokes, and drunkenness just to make people laugh. We often see one‑dimensional
characters in ludicrous situations in farces.
Slam doors.
Have pants fall down.
Missed connections.
Mistaken kisses.
A PUNCH LINE EVERY THREE LINES.
The purpose is to make everyone laugh. There is
no other purpose. There is no higher calling. Laughter IS the higher calling.
Remember to start in normal stasis realism.
Then- with the inciting incident- each problem becomes more and more
ridiculous.
Bonus- Add yourself. What is YOUR version of
Farce. In your own life... at the office? With the kids? With coordinating
party plans?
Just last night I tried to get groceries ALONE
with my 4 month old baby and 3 year old boy. I forgot my keys to get in the
car. I forgot the baby's bottle when I got the keys. I forgot my wallet with a
cart full of groceries- drove home and back- and when I checked out... forgot
the grocery bags in the car.
That doesn't make a great play, but... it felt
like a freaking farce! (not literal definition)
********
Not a farce, but a scene around a song...
********
MICAH on guitar,
strumming a bit of a rhythm on the guitar with the chords, tentatively but
quite happy.
AUGGIE sings.
AUGGIE
(sings, verse)
I blame
you for
the beat of
my heart.
Hold onto
me like
you were
drowning.
I need
you near
me in
the dark
to help
fill in
that mis-
sing part.
(chorus)
There was a
hole at the
center of
my life.
Hole at the
center of
my life.
There was a
hole at the
center of my,
center of
my life.
But life's
a whole
lot better
now with you.
(speaks)
OK, just a strum for
each chord in this last verse.
MICAH obliges.
AUGGIE (cont'd)
(sings, verse)
I blame
you for
the smile
on my face.
You've cast
the spell I've
fallen under.
MICAH isn't so sure he likes the turn the verse is taking.
AUGGIE sings on, unaware.
MICAH keeps the chords coming but maybe they start being just a
little off, as the words hit him.
AUGGIE (cont'd)
(sings)
A mircale,
a tiny thing,
your magic
always
makes me sing
(speaking)
OK, now kick back into
the rhythm pattern.
MICAH can't continue, even though AUGGIE does for a second.
AUGGIE (cont'd)
(sings)
There was a -
(speaks)
Hey, I lost my band.
Micah?
Hey, are you OK?
MICAH is having a hard time processing his emotions.
MICAH
I'd like to say
"Yeah, I'm fine" - but -
AUGGIE
You don't have to hide
things from me.
MICAH
You are amazing, you
know that?
AUGGIE
OK, we're going to have
to go back to the first verse about blushing now.
MICAH
And I am the absolute
worst.
AUGGIE
Hey now.
MICAH
I am.
AUGGIE
Go easy. You're talking about the man I love there.
MICAH
It's right there, in
your song.
AUGGIE
What?
MICAH
Spell, magic, making you
do things.
AUGGIE
Those are metaphors.
MICAH
Those are your subconscious
screaming to be let out of the trap I've shoved you into.
AUGGIE
I'll change it. I'll come up with another verse. It's just a first draft, buddy. They don't come out perfect, you know.
MICAH
Oh, you've summed up our
situation perfectly.
I shouldn't even be
touching your guitar.
I'm contaminating it.
AUGGIE
Hey.
MICAH
I have to berate myself
in order for you to get angry with me.
How twisted is that?
AUGGIE
You're angry enough at
yourself for both of us.
MICAH
Damn right.
AUGGIE
How can I turn this
around? We were doing so well.
MICAH
I've got to stop living
in a fantasy. I'm getting way to
comfortable with something I can't have.
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