Comedy Interpretation performers have a list of characters to turn to, complete with posture and voice. There are The Matriarch, Sassy Teen, Emo Kid, The Jock, English Gentleman / woman, Geek, Old Man, etc. For those one-line characters, or those who are strictly there for outrageous comic relief, a common character may pop up for a quick laugh. It’s a cheap laugh, but it usually works anyway. These common characters, or stereotypes (yes, they are stereotypes, since they are based on a generalization of a group), are familiar. And there is comfort in the familiar. The public knows that character. People can instantly relate, see the joke, and thus make it easy for an artist to turn a character with minimal exposure into a laugh.

However, in this politically correct world, characters can be frowned upon fairly quickly if pushed too far. There is a risk of a gay character being quirky and very Jack from Will & Grace. To avoid turning a laugh into a grimace, there are some common rules of thumb:

1. Do not exceed stocks. A humorous performance with nothing but stereotypes is boring. The public knows these characters; They see them every day on television and in movies. This overuse of stereotypes not only bores your audience, it also shows how unoriginal you are with your performance. At an event titled Humorous Interpretation, it would be wise to prominently market your acting skills, perhaps by doing something?

2. Know the limits. An ordinary character can quickly morph into a tough stereotype if the joke is carried too far. Exaggeration works in comedy and is one of the standout characteristics, but using the gesture / vocalization of a stereotype to the extreme is not fun. What Californian voice are you going to add to that cheerleader who flips her hair TOO MUCH and spells words? Seriously. It’s like watching a man tell a joke that he thinks is Hilarious and laugh wildly at it in an annoying way, when in fact it isn’t. Only for. The joke is dead.

3. SUBSTANCE !!! A standard character for a supporting role is fine and can be a fuss if done tactfully. A leading role as a blatant stereotype, unless the script considers it so, might not work. The comedy is fun because of the crazy antics the characters get involved in and the over-the-top acting. HOWEVER, there needs to be some reflection of reality, otherwise your work has no merit. Comedy is meant to teach life lessons in an ornate way. How can audiences connect and learn from a humorous performance when the characters are so distant and unreal?

4. Familiarity. Common characters / stereotypes are images, voices, and cartoons that the audience has seen before. Ergo, your humorous performance can easily get boring if the character doesn’t have a royal style. To properly use a stock character, you must give all your energy and sell it. Try adding different quirks as indicated / interpreted from the script as well to add some originality. HI artists must be creative and energetic to win over an audience.

The creation of categories and tag groups is unavoidable. Common characters have been around since the ancient Greeks created the theater (who can forget the character of Theophrastus from The Unpleasant Man?). Back then, easily recognizable characters, through dress, mask and posture, were necessary for the audience to get to know the person and learn the moral of the drama without complications. Thousands of years later, humans still need to generalize and create a group image. People identify with the generalization but can distance themselves enough to reassure them that they are “not that person.” This delicate balance is what helps allow some connection and catharsis to occur. Break the comfort bubble and people will find the generalization tacky. Knowing that, common stereotypes / characters can become mean and meaningless when they lack heart and are pushed beyond limits. Always keep in mind the common character you use and ask “is this too far?”