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Black comedy or dark humour is the kind of comedy that presents serious things in a rather light manner. The lieutenant of Inishmore by Martin Mcdonagh and The ‘Shape of Things’ by Neil Labute focus on the use of black comedy to evoke laughter and aim to manipulate the audience during the serious subject matters, which can be considered a mirror of society.
Throughout The lieutenant of Inishmore, Mcdonagh examines the idea of bloody and barbaric scenes with comedy to manipulate the audience into considering the mindset of a psychopath as well as the different topics of murder, death and torture. The ongoing cruel terrorist attacks in Northern Ireland led the playwright, Martin McDonagh, to mock the political actions through his work. Amidst the comedy and carnage, McDonagh delivers cutting commentary on the endless cycle of violence that ‘troubles’ our world. During the play, the audience experiences the shock of what they are witnessing and question serious issues such as loss and guilt. This notion was also highlighted through the two characters, Donny and Davey as they would often repeat jokes in serious situations. This is seen, During Scene 8, when Davey has failed to wake up Donny in time, and they are still asleep when Padraic arrives. He wakes them up and demands to know where the cat is. They indicate the decoy, claiming it has a disease that makes it smell like shoe polish and ‘get all orangey’. Padraic isn’t fooled and angrily shoots the cat, blowing it to pieces. Consequently, during the argument is where the audience members may feel the confrontation as there was an increase in volume and the pacing of the dialogue was faster, however, the incorporation of sarcasm and the use of dark, disturbing and sarcastic language used somehow manages to be ruthlessly comedic and often allows the audience to forget about the gasping/shocking moments. Thus, Mcdonough explores the idea of bloody and barbaric scenes as well as sarcasm with comedy to manipulate the audience.
Labute condemns the use of black comedy to evoke laughter and also aims to manipulate the audience during serious situations in the play.
The play is set in a small university town in the American Midwest and focuses on the lives of four young students who become emotionally and romantically involved with each other. The play provides the audience with an insight into the devastating consequences such issues can have upon a relationship between the two main protagonists, Evelyn and Adam.
The audience view the two main protagonists Adam and Evelyn as they are cuddling in bed, close together as they hold each other firmly, staring off. There is a tripod nearby, and a camera which has started recording. Although this would generally make the audience feel uncomfortable as it is not considered a norm in society, to film a sex tape and openly discuss it. However The staging and language, gives the audience a comic effect.
Although ‘The Lieutenant of Inishmore’ and the ‘Shape of things’ are different from each other, both plays incorporate the use of black comedy and aim to provoke laughter in certain situations.
Labute, like Mcdonough, also uses common societal issues which allow readers to understand the context of the play, using different themes to convey their message. Similarly, both playwrights incorporate black comedy for a comic effect, allowing readers to laugh and supposedly forget about the bizarre and barbaric moments. Both plays had underlying themes at times, Thus, the audience at times remaining quiet and a sense of shock whilst watching different situations occur, However Mcdonough and Labute incorporate catharsis throughout the play, with the intentions to confront the audience and describe the emotional release from the outside as a result leading individuals to laugh.
To conclude, throughout Mcdonagh’s play ‘Lieutenant of Inishmore’ and Labute, ‘Shape of Things’, explore and examine the important use of black comedy for comic effect as both playwrights aim to manipulate the audience during the serious subject matters, which can be considered a mirror of society.
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