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Product Description
Review
John Wright's magnum opus... a real labour of love and it is hard to believe that there is any aspect of the subject that he does not explore and explain...essential. --British Theatre Guide
A must for any budding physical comedy performers - and an inspiration for everyone who treads the boards, whether they think of themselves as 'comedic' or not. --Total Theatre Magazine
A must for any budding physical comedy performers - and an inspiration for everyone who treads the boards, whether they think of themselves as 'comedic' or not. --Total Theatre Magazine
Product Description
A practical investigation of how comedy works, by an inspirational practitioner and teacher.
Comedy is recognised as one of the most problematic areas of performances. For that reason, it is rarely written about in any systematic way. John Wright, founder of Trestle Theatre and Told by an Idiot, brings a wide range of experience of physical comedy to this unique exploration of comedy and comedic techniques.
Why Is That So Funny? opens with an analysis of the different kinds of laughter that can be provoked by performance. This is followed by the main part of the book: games and exercises devised to demonstrate and investigate the whole range of comic possibilities open to a performer.
Why Is That So Funny? will be invaluable to teachers, students and performers and fascinating for anyone interested in how comedy works.
Comedy is recognised as one of the most problematic areas of performances. For that reason, it is rarely written about in any systematic way. John Wright, founder of Trestle Theatre and Told by an Idiot, brings a wide range of experience of physical comedy to this unique exploration of comedy and comedic techniques.
Why Is That So Funny? opens with an analysis of the different kinds of laughter that can be provoked by performance. This is followed by the main part of the book: games and exercises devised to demonstrate and investigate the whole range of comic possibilities open to a performer.
Why Is That So Funny? will be invaluable to teachers, students and performers and fascinating for anyone interested in how comedy works.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This book clearly lays out the fundamentals of John Wright's work. It breaks apart acting clichés and the far too frequent stuffiness of theater. It gives theater makers and performers tools and practical exercises that really work. And it will help you to make work! He draws on his vast experience and explorations with actors and other great master teachers and theater makers. His work is liberating and inspiring and this book reads that way. And it's about alot more than just comedy. It will make you want to go out and make a play right away. Your work will be better for it.
10 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
First a confession: a few years ago I was subject to ritual humiliation in one of John Wright's workshops - each time I reluctantly clambered to my feet to engage with one of his exercises my efforts were greeted by a forest of hands telling me I was patently not interesting and certainly not amusing. (Read the book for reference to this exercise) I went away feeling bruised and somewhat resentful of those to whom clowning and buffoonery appeared to come easily. It was only later that I realised I had been taught an incredibly valuable lesson, and one that should have been obvious to a drama professional: always pay attention to your audience - they will let you know if they like what you are doing - and if they don't - try doing something else.
This book is a manual of useful exercises; a personal philosophy of performance; and a lifelong journey of discovery and exploration around the broad area of theatrical clowning and physical comedy. It is written in a jargon-free style, whose use of self-effacing anecdote made me laugh out loud on a number of occasions. The descriptions of the exercises are precise and detailed, enabling the experienced teacher to visualise and adapt easily. The book has a resemblance to Keith Johnstone's classic text 'Impro', in both its structural format and its very real enjoyment of and passionate engagement with its subject matter. In a time where educators are encouraged to 'facilitate' rather than teach, where the notion of 'failure' has been erased from the curriculum, John Wright teaches us the most valuable lesson of all - failure is fundamentally and absolutely how we learn - we just have to 'keep getting up', keep taking risks, and keep trying new things - and always, always, watch the audience.
This book is a manual of useful exercises; a personal philosophy of performance; and a lifelong journey of discovery and exploration around the broad area of theatrical clowning and physical comedy. It is written in a jargon-free style, whose use of self-effacing anecdote made me laugh out loud on a number of occasions. The descriptions of the exercises are precise and detailed, enabling the experienced teacher to visualise and adapt easily. The book has a resemblance to Keith Johnstone's classic text 'Impro', in both its structural format and its very real enjoyment of and passionate engagement with its subject matter. In a time where educators are encouraged to 'facilitate' rather than teach, where the notion of 'failure' has been erased from the curriculum, John Wright teaches us the most valuable lesson of all - failure is fundamentally and absolutely how we learn - we just have to 'keep getting up', keep taking risks, and keep trying new things - and always, always, watch the audience.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
A very interesting book with lots of practical workshop ideas. I tried out some of the exercises with my students and they worked really well. It is also interesting for any theatre students who wish to know more about the work of LeCoq in Paris
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Because it is well written
This is a great book for theatre teachers and students because is clear and straightforward. The phylosophical comments and good exercises will help theatre people to improve their... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Marcelo Beré Libanio
Wonderfully incisive and fully informative
This work is a must read for anyone who cares about theatre in all its forms. It should be compulsory reading at all drama schools. Brilliant.
Published 5 months ago by Mr. S. M. Finegold
useful and interesting read
I bought this for a drama student friend and he was thrilled to bits. I skimmed through it myself and found it interesting too even though I am not involved in drama.
Published 12 months ago by Janx
an easy book to read
i'm about half way through this and it's the best book on acting i've read. It helps if you can actually get off the page and do some of the exercises. Read more
Published on 25 Feb 2009 by Mr. L. Rice
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