Physical comedy

Physical comedy

Physical comedy also known as slapstick is a comedic performance relying mostly on the use of the body to convey humor.

Whether a "pratfall" (i.e. landing on the buttocks), a silly face, or by walking into walls, physical comedy (even used to entertain small children) is a common and rarely subtle form of comedy. It is a clownish exploitation of movement, the most primordial human medium of expression, which predates language and the introduction of cerebral elements to humor such as cultural tradition, erudition and word puns.

The Three Stooges, Laurel and Hardy, Don Knotts, Ken Berry, "Rob" Petrie (Dick van Dyke's character on the The Dick Van Dyke Show), Jack Tripper (John Ritter's character on "Three's Company"), Kramer (Michael Richards's character on "Seinfeld"), Chris Farley, Rowan Atkinson's "Mr. Bean" and Benny Hill are all examples of physical comedy characters.

ee also

*Slapstick
*Comedy
*Physical theater


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