Tristen James is an upcoming comedy writer and his debut novel, Two Men in a Basement, promise a successful future for the writer. Two Men in a Basement follows the story of two brothers in their forties, who have moved back into their aging parents’ basement. The old parents are unaware of the permanent move and are becoming increasingly annoyed with their children as each day passes by. The brothers’ daily shenanigans will leave you laughing to a stomach ache. James brings a young and energetic touch to his writing. It is always refreshing to read the works of young and talented writers.
The comedy genre’s main purpose is to entertain and amuse readers. Most of the work in this genre has a cheerful and happy ending. The genre has different types, which usually depend on the type of humor and context, along with different dialogue delivery methods. Compiled by Kirsty Lee Eastaugh, here are different types of comedy:
· Black Comedy
A dramatic comedy is about unpleasant subjects that the audience can find upsetting and shocking. This comedy treats upsetting matters of life with scrutiny, bitterness, and cynicism. Example: Amadeus-Peter Shaffer
· Burlesque
A dramatic comedy that treats a serious subject in an undignified way or applies a grand style to a frivolous subject.
· City Comedy
A dramatic comedy about the sexual and financial affairs of middle-class characters. Includes satirical depiction and was common in the seventeenth century in London theatres.
· Comedy of Humors
A comedy focused around an individual character or character’s overriding traits (humor) that dominates their personality.
· Comedy of Manners
A dramatic comedy that explores the lives and behavior of the middle and upper class in society, normally involving moral values.
· Commedia Dell'Arte
Italian comedy (involving a group of traveling actors), made up of stock characters that perform an improvised performance based around a standard plot. Popular between the sixteenth and eighteenth centuries.
· Farce
A comedy involving a series of comically unimaginable events happening in a fats amount of time. Commonly contains slapstick and sexual innuendo.
· Parody
A literary work or style that is mocked through exaggeration or imitation.
· Restoration Comedy
An English dramatic comedy (usually in the form of manners) which dominated the Restoration Period (1660-1700).
· Romantic Comedy
Light-hearted comedies involving young lovers foolish mix-ups.
· Satire
A way of writing that ridicules institutions, individuals, or societies to criticize their errors.
· Sentimental Comedy
A more restrained type of comedy where middle-class characters are led astray although they are inherently good, they overcome moral difficulties.
· Theatre of the Absurd
Playwrights aimed to portray the futility of decisive actions and the absurdity of human conditions. 1950 dramatists’discard formal structures and realistic presentation.
· Tragicomedy – Plays that combine both elements from Comedy and Tragedy, also associated with the theatre of the absurd.
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