Caleb James Grochalski

DRA: 400 - Playing Comedy

Prof. Leslie Noble

October 9, 2018

Reflection Paper #1

Where you began this semester:

- This semester, I came into Playing Comedy expecting to be improvising a

lot and talking about the “science” of comedy. I idolized the comic greats

like Carol Burnett, Betty White, Colin Mocherie, and Ryan Stiles growing

up, and wanted to be as funny as they were. This class seemed like a

refresher from our serious work as actors in dramatic scenes that we

tend to do in the drama department. However, I realized that the same

work applies to a comic scene, as it would to a dramatic scene. The

moment of the play has to be honest and accurate, but the element of play

is more elevated in a comedy. The introduction of the “game” idea opened

a lot of doors for potential for me. I found that some games worked more

than others, but the willingness to try a “game” or a new focus for the

scene unlocked lots of interesting moments. I have played with the

comedy of manners before, but never in the way that we explored in

class, which was an incredible learning opportunity for everyone. I learn

 most while watching others work on the same type of scene that I am, and

applying their feedback or their discoveries to my work.

What you’re discovering - What’s been satisfying, challenging, useful, etc.:

- I always try to do the scene differently every time. Yes, I have to hit my

marks and say the right word, but I always try to find a new game to play

at the top of the scene each time I run it. I also clock when things are

working and when moments are falling flat, either with no laugh or they

are not filled with tension or conflict between the characters. The state of

complicity is also an important factor to a successful comic scene. There

always has to be a push and pull – a leader and a follower, and it’s

important to acknowledge when I am leading versus when I am following.

Comedy is so fast paces, that it requires an extreme sensibility to who is

leading, because the last thing you want to do is stomp on a comic

moment or ruin the build of a punch line.

What is your next step:

- My next scene is a challenge. I am looking forward to unlocking the comic

potential in an innocent character, with a dry sense of humor as opposed

to a neurotic one. I definitely want to spend more time working on the

comic potential of the character as a whole, as opposed to putting “bits”

into the blocking. There is a great deal of comedy in honesty and

familiarity if you approach it with a light heart. I look forward to

exploring happy funny moments.