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stoneunhinged Inner circle 3067 Posts |
So watch the following video, but as a thought experiment:
1. Pretend you don't hear any audience laughter 2. Watch facial expressions, listen to his voice, think about the pauses, etc., http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=IeNDkxnz2V0 Now, with the exception of the punch line, think about how well he tells this story, and how it's for a laugh. Here's the thought experiment: Put Mr Allen in creepy clothes, put a few candles around...and maybe even some music...and EXPECT a scary story rather than a funny one. What happens? And I raise this question: is priming your audience--letting them know what to expect--at least half the battle? I'm just thinking about this stuff lately. But it seems to me that in this video they are laughing because they know that he's supposed to be funny and that a punchline is coming, and NOT because of the way he tells the story. The way he tells the story is simply this: as a good story should be told. What do y'all think? |
jambo666 New user To stop riffraff you need a fence of 55 Posts |
For those of us of a certain age here in the UK growing up with Dave Allen on TV was something to look back on with fondness. He was absolutely brilliant at telling funny stories. Just sitting there on his stool with his cigarette and a glass of water (vodka, gin? we were never sure). He was very well known for sending up his own religion. A very funny man. You could definately learn a lot from his presentation and perfect timing. Thanks for the link, I enjoyed it a lot.
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CALENIG Regular user UK 199 Posts |
Fantastic The Great Dave Allen! A master class in timing, a true performer!
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Bill Ligon Inner circle A sure sign of a misspent youth: 6437 Posts |
The laughs come at moments that would otherwise be particularly frightening. People laugh because (a) they are expecting humor, and (b) because they need to release the tension generated by what is a masterfully told scary story. Allen allows a bit of tension release to build even greater tension until the punchline when the tension is released explosively. The story itself is frightening -- until the punchline. It is seen as funny because this is what the audience is expecting. In essence, it is frightening and funny at the same time. As Henning Nelms points out, audiences hate surprises. They must be told subtly somehow, "A surprise is coming. Get ready!"
To answer the question posed by Stoneunhinged, the setting and the expectations that the performer creates in the minds of the audience determine whether the story is seen as humor or as something dark and frightening. Bill
Author of THE HOLY ART: Bizarre Magick From Naljorpa's Cave. NOW IN HARDCOVER! VIEW: <BR>www.lulu.com/content/1399405 ORDER: http://stores.lulu.com/naljorpa
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Greg Arce Inner circle 6732 Posts |
I agree with Bill. I think the story as told still works for a bizarre setting. Who says you can't have a laugh or two when presenting stuff like this?
What if you end on the same joke then say, "But that was a dream. When I really woke up I found this sitting by the bed... right next to my pillow." You unwrap a cloth and there's a cut off finger with a dried stump. Now you do something where the finger moves or points to a prediction or whatever. Greg
One of my favorite quotes: "A critic is a legless man who teaches running."
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kaytracy Inner circle Central California 1793 Posts |
I noticed how he maintained his composure through the laughter, and as someone not familiar with this man, hearing his tale, I felt the laughter was out of place. It was not a point for release just yet.
At least not for me. Finding the "ending" Greg, I would say that to have it "do" anything right away would be to go for the laugh, I would take it from teh cloth, put into a holder or vial, and chain it around my neck, use it later on as a pendulum, etc. k
Kay and Tory
www.Bizarremagick.com |
stoneunhinged Inner circle 3067 Posts |
For those of you who don't know David Allen, something really DID happen to his finger, and he never (as far as I know) told what really happened. So the punchline is a kind of "in" joke for his regular audience: yet another story about what happened to his finger.
As far as whether humor belongs in a bizarre performance goes: I would say that everything goes. Once I get my act together, I hope to make an audience laugh, cry, think about the past and future, get horny, get inspired, and want to give me lots of money and invite me for private parties. But that's just me. |
Bill Ligon Inner circle A sure sign of a misspent youth: 6437 Posts |
This is somewhat off topic for the moment, but the amputated finger reminded me of my grandfather. He was diabetic and had had one leg amputated. I kept asking him about how he lost his leg, and he never would tell me. Finally, in exasperation, he said, "Alright, I'll tell you, but you have to promise you will ask NO MORE QUESTIONS about it." Or course, I promised fervently that I would ask no more questions.
"OK," he said, "here is how I lost my leg. IT WAS BIT OFF!" And there I sat, with NO MORE QUESTIONS.
Author of THE HOLY ART: Bizarre Magick From Naljorpa's Cave. NOW IN HARDCOVER! VIEW: <BR>www.lulu.com/content/1399405 ORDER: http://stores.lulu.com/naljorpa
<BR>A TASSEL ON THE LUNATIC FRINGE |
stoneunhinged Inner circle 3067 Posts |
Quote:
And there I sat, with NO MORE QUESTIONS. HA! My grandpa was a fan of wrestling...back in the day...I'm talking the 1970s. And he used to tell me a story about one wrestler wrapping the chain around his wrist and grinding another wrestler's eye out--which was, of course, why the other wrestler wore an eye-patch. Bill...uh...I've never asked you, but...why do you wear an eye-patch? |
Bill Ligon Inner circle A sure sign of a misspent youth: 6437 Posts |
Quote:
Bill...uh...I've never asked you, but...why do you wear an eye-patch? I wear it because I found it at a Ren Faire and just had to buy it. Also, I can take it off and look around corners! Bill
Author of THE HOLY ART: Bizarre Magick From Naljorpa's Cave. NOW IN HARDCOVER! VIEW: <BR>www.lulu.com/content/1399405 ORDER: http://stores.lulu.com/naljorpa
<BR>A TASSEL ON THE LUNATIC FRINGE |
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