Jokes
The Second Meaning Doing the Heavy Lifting
Learn how a joke’s second meaning turns an ordinary line into a comic pivot, and spot the small cues that prepare the…
The full collection
All pieces
Read Select Comedy Review by subject: from the construction of a joke to the wider forms, characters and performances that give comedy its shape.
Characters
The Fool, the Expert and the Rules They Break
The fool and expert comic characters expose hidden social rules. Learn to shape their motives, reactions and conflict…
Forms
When the Interlude Became the Main Event
See how a comic interlude works inside a larger program, what changes when it stands alone, and how to judge whether…
Satire
Satire Is Not Just a Sharper Insult
Learn how satire turns a sharp insult into a comic scene with a clear target, a revealing pattern, and an ending that…
Performance
A Living Room Comedy Night, Arranged by Contrast
Plan a living room comedy night with a clear mix of comic styles, an easy running order, and simple ways to adjust…