Because I Tell a Joke or Two explores the complex relationship between comedy and the social differences of class; region; age; gender; sexuality; ethnicity and nationhood. It shows how comedy has been used to sustain; challenge and to change power relationships in society. The contributors; who include Stephen Wagg; Mark Simpson; Stephen Small; Paul Wells and Frances Williams; offer readings of comedy genres; texts and performers in Britain; the United States and Australia. The collection also includes an interview with the comedian Jo Brand. Topics addressed include: * women in British comedies such as Butterflies and Fawlty Towers * the life and times of Viz; from Billy the Fish to the Fat Slags * queer readings of Morecambe and Wise; the male double act * the Marx brothers and Jewish comedy in the United States * black radical comedy in Britain * The Golden Girls; Cheers; Friends and American society.
#3010175 in eBooks 2004-01-14 2004-01-14File Name: B000SIXOZ2
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. my gripe against rsquo;s desire to dumb us all down is overBy Charlene SmithSo totally facile to mark these generated tickboxes. Few who read Ibsen also read the tabloids - okay; my gripe against rsquo;s desire to dumb us all down is over.I bought this because I plan to visit my grandmotherrsquo;s country of origin this year; Norway and as is my wont before travel I try and absorb as much of the culture; music; art and history of a country before traveling there.I was amazed and delighted by how easy this play was to read; how contemporary it seemed and how very thought provoking.If yoursquo;re hesitating; buy it; you wonrsquo;t be disappointed ... now I want to read more.0 of 4 people found the following review helpful. Great play; perhaps; just not among my favoritesBy K of CSpgsIbsen is regarded as one of the foremost 19th Century European playwrights. I dont quarrel with that. Be warned; however; that the subject matter of this particular script makes Chekov seem almost sunny. This is a story about a young man; badly scarred by his own family; who sets out to spread the misery around. He succeeds.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Plumbing the Depths of a Poisonous MarshBy Plume45THIS STARK PLAY; WRITTEN AT THE END OF IBSENrsquo;S MIDDLE PERIOD; REPRISES SIMILAR THEMES: A PHILANDERING FAMILY MAN; AN ESTRANGED FATHER AND SON; AND THE QUESTIONABLE PARENTAGE OF A MAIDrsquo;S DAUGHTER. CURIOUSLY ENOUGH THE TITLE CHARACTER--A WOUNDED WILD DUCK; TEMPORARILY TAMED AND LIVING IN AN ATTICmdash;IS NEVER ACTUALLY SEEN ON STAGE; JUST REFERENCED IN MANY CONVERSATIONS AND POSSIBLY HEARD QUACKING.ACT ONE REVEALS OLD WOUNDS AND THE REASON WHY THE EKDAL FAMILY STRUGGLES WITH POVERTY AND LINGERING SOCIAL HUMILIATION. FORMER BUSINESS PARTNERS IN THE ldquo;WORKINGSrdquo; UP IN THE NORTHERN FOREST; TWO OLD MEN HAVE REASONS TO AVOID EACH OTHER; BUT IT IS WEALTHY WERLE WHOSE GUILTY CONSCIENCE GOADS HIM INTO SURREPTITIOUSLY HELPING THE EKDALS WHEN HE CAN. HIS FORMER MAID; GINA; NOW MARRIED TO A MODESTLY SUCCESSFUL PHOTOGRAPHER NAMED HJALMAR; IS A GREAT HELP TO HER HUSBAND. THEIR ALMOST 15-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER; HEDVIG; IS DEVOTED TO HER FATHER--BUT LIVES IN BLISSFUL IGNORANCE OF HER DUBIOUS PARENTAGE. ALSO SHE; LIKE OLD WERLE; IS LOSING HER EYESIGHTmdash;A PAINFUL MEDICAL FATE WHICH HER PARENTS PATHETICALLY SHIELD HER FROM.AS THE ACTS UNFOLD AND MORE OF THE PAST IS REVEALED THE CONTROVERSY DEEPENS. WE WONDER IF HEDVIG WILL SET THE HOUSE ON FIRE OR IF HJALMAR WILL SHOOT HIMSELF WITH HIS FATHERrsquo;S UBIQUITOUS OLD PISTOL. THEN GREGERS; AN OLD SCHOOL CHUM; RETURNS TO THE TOWN BUT REFUSES TO LIVE WITH HIS FATHER; WERLE. NAIVELY DETERMINED TO MAKE AMENDS (WITH INFORMATION IF NOT MONEY) GREGERS MOTIVES ARE PRAISEWORTHY; BUT COME AT THE WRONG TIME. (AS IF THERE IS EVER A GOOD TIME TO INFORM A MAN THAT HE MAY NOT BE HIS DAUGHTERrsquo;S FATHER AFTER ALL...) HOW CAN HEDVIG BEST PROVE TO HJALMAR THAT SHE IS STILL HIS ADORING DAUGHTER? WHO MUST LEAVE THE BEDRAGGLED NEST TO RESTORE PEACE IN THEIR HUMBLE HOME? BETWEEN A MEDDLING FRIEND AND THE PROTAGONISTrsquo;S HOPELESS SEARCH FOR THE IDEAL AND PURSUIT OF AN IMPOSSIBLE DREAM; THE TRAGEDY OF HUMAN EXISTENCE IS INEXORABLY PLAYED OUT.IN SOME WAYS POOR HEDWIG HERSELF MAY BE CONSIDERED A HUMAN VERSION OF THE CAPTIVE WILD DUCK; WHILE HER CONFLICTED FATHER IS DEEMED A PATHETIC ONE BY AN ERSTWHILE FRIEND. ALTHOUGH THE FAMILY KEEPS THE LIGHT OUT OF THE ATTIC AT WILL; THEY PROVE HELPLESS TO RAISE THEIR DAUGHTER IN TOTAL IGNORANCE OF THE LIGHT OF PAINFUL TRUTH. GRIPPING AND TOUCHING THIS DRAMArsquo;S CENTRAL CONFLICT REVOLVES AROUND THE INABILITY OF MEN WITH ARTISTIC TEMPERAMENTS; WITH IDEALS OF THE SOUL; TO SUCCEED IN A WORLD DOMINATED BY SELF-SEEKING MANIPULATORS AND NAIuml;VE MEDDLERS. THE TRUTH CAN KILL OR MAIM THE SURVIVORS FOR LIFE.