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Essay / Research Paper Abstract
A 3 page essay that discusses the nature of playwright Neil Simons' comedy. The writer argues that Simons primarily draws his humor from characterization and that it is situational. Barefoot in the Park, The Odd Couple and Chapter Two are discussed. Bibliography lists 3 sources.
Page Count:
3 pages (~225 words per page)
File: D0_khnscom.rtf
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Unformatted sample text from the term paper:
several of his plays might be classified as autobiographical. Yet, despite these distinctions in categorization, all of Simons plays draw their humor from his detailed characterization and the situations presented.
As this point illustrates, comedic effects are never drawn solely from one category of comedy, but rather are combinations of all of the tools available to the playwright. Nevertheless, it
can be said that a specific author will generally draw most of his or her effects from a specific style or genre of comedy and, in the case of Neil
Simon, this genre is most often situational. However, it is Simons characterization that makes ordinary situations funny. For example, take his play The Odd Couple. There is nothing humorous about
two middle-aged men having to share an apartment because their wives are divorcing them. In fact, it is rather pathetic. It is Simons characterization that makes this funny through the
contrast of Felixs hyper-cleanliness with Oscar being the ultimate slob. For example, in Act I, Oscar asks his poker buddies if they want "brown sandwich or green sandwiches" (Johnson 17).
When asked what is on a green sandwich, Oscar says, "Its either very new cheese or very old meat" (Johnson 17). As this illustrates, it is not just the situation,
but Simons characterization that is the source of the humor. Similarly, in Barefoot in the Park, young newlyweds adjust to marriage, personality conflicts and life in a miniscule apartment
at the top of five long flights of stairs. This does not sound funny, yet it is; and this largely due to Simons characterization of Corie Bratter. Corie is young,
free-spirited and passionate, which contrasts with her new husband Paul who-- being a lawyer--is conservative and traditional. Here again, it is the contrast that provides the comedy and, while the
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