Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board: "Pee Your Pants" Funny

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dmd196
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Topic: "Pee Your Pants" Funny
Posted: 7/30/07 at 3:09pm

Earlier this year I directed "Time Flies", a short play by David Ives. It was definitely "Pee Your Pants" funny.

Here's the issue, I've been asked to direct a full length comedy and I need to suggest something to the Play Selection Committee that is the same caliber.

"Plaza Suite" by Neil Simon was suggested but I was born in the 70's and don't get many of his jokes.

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Debflo
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Posted: 7/30/07 at 3:13pm

My suggestion - "Run for Your Wife" by Ray Cooney. We just did this and followed it up with the sequal "Caught in the Net" both are definitely pee your pants funny! British farce at its best!

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donzolidis
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Posted: 7/30/07 at 3:40pm

What size cast are you looking for?

The Nerd by Larry Shue is always a favorite.

www.donzolidis.com

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tdsands
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Posted: 7/30/07 at 5:04pm

"The Foursome" by Norm Foster is one of my favorites. 4 men late 30's

"Social Security" by Andrew Bergman. 3m 3w

"Don't Dress for Dinner" by Marc Camoletti 3m 3w

tdsands @ NRT

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donzolidis
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Posted: 7/30/07 at 5:21pm

Side point:

All the suggestions so far were written by men. What are some laugh-out loud comedies written by women?

(Anything by Christopher Durang is also a good bet--Beyond Therapy is nice, depending on what your audience will stomach. For a short play, nothing beats Naomi in the Living Room.)

www.donzolidis.com

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dmd196
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Posted: 7/30/07 at 5:42pm

We have a small stage so a cast of 4-10 would be ideal.

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B-M-D
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Posted: 7/30/07 at 5:46pm

The Smell of the Kill by Michele Lowe can be found at www.dramaticpublishing.com It features 3 women and the three men are off stage voices. It is pee in your pants funny. I should know, I directed a production of it two years ago. One of the funniest GD shows we've ever done. You should read the excerpt that Dramatic Publishing provides to get feel of what you're in for.

"Dying is easy, comedy is hard."

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Mr. Lowell
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Posted: 7/30/07 at 6:00pm

The funniest show I've ever worked on is "Noises Off", but you need a huge set on a turntable for that one.

However for a simple set, "Dearly Departed", by Bottrell & Jones, is a absolute hoot!

It's about a redneck disfunctional family, just like the "Mama's Family" sketches from The Carol Burnett Show. And one character reminds me of "Larry the Cable Guy". The characters are broad and bawdy, with plenty of opportunities for funny adlibs and covert "wink, winks" to the audience.

It calls for a small cast of about 12...with several minor roles being double cast. However, we had plenty of actors audition, so we cast the "Joy of Life Singers" and other small parts using all these bonus people.

The show can be staged very simply. The style is fast-paced and intimate, like a TV sitcom, so we did ours in the studio theatre on a small, minimalist set. Scene changes were done by rolling open a giant door flat, which we painted with the show logo in the style of the original "Family Feud" game show. Here are a few pics:

http://www.lowell.to/Studio/IMG_0315.JPG

http://www.lowell.to/Studio/IMG_0502.JPG

http://www.lowell.to/Studio/IMG_0499.JPG

http://www.lowell.to/Studio/IMG_0397.JPG

http://www.lowell.to/Studio/IMG_0428.JPG

Good luck, and let's us know how it goes. -Dana

Mr. Lowell,
Lighting/Set Designer & Tech Director,
for the Linda Sloan Theatre,
in the Davison Center for the Arts,
at Greensboro Day School

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B-M-D
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Posted: 7/30/07 at 8:07pm

Originally posted by Mr. Lowell

"Dearly Departed", by Bottrell & Jones, is a hoot!

OMG how could I have forgotten this one! We did it at my ct awhile back and I was in it! We're also doing Dearly Beloved this season by the same author. It's in rehearsal now. Saddly I'm not in that one because I'm directing the show right after it. You might also look at Christmas Belles, some of the same characters from Dearly Beloved.

"Dying is easy, comedy is hard."

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tristanrobin
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Posted: 7/31/07 at 8:24am

I have to agree with "The Nerd" by Larry Shue. I belive it's the only play that made me laugh heartily out loud just by reading it.

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