This stimulating introduction to laughter in theatre and performance examines laughter among actors, among audience, and the interaction between the two.
This stimulating introduction to laughter in theatre and performance examines laughter among actors, among audience, and the interaction between the two. Exploring the many uses and effects of laughter in theatre, Eric Weitz considers laughter as a tool of political resonance, as social commentary, and as one of the oldest rhetorical devices.
Series editors' preface.- Partners in social relations.- Laughter and theatre.- Play's the thing.- Laughter and its double.- Killing the frog.- Embodied joking.- Subsequent audiences.- The Heart of Lightness.- Shadow laughter.- Humour as embodied practice.- Word play.- Slapstick.- The clown figure.- Laughter in the frame.- Laughter as behavioural meme.- Laughter as theme.- Funniness.- Laughter and context.- Laughter as crowd control.- Laughter as event.- Changing the situation.- One more thing.- Further reading.- Index.