COMEDIAN’S PROBLEM

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8360, 21 February 1913, Page 11

COMEDIAN’S PROBLEM

GREYBEARDS THE EASIEST TO AMUSE. It is very mnch more difficult, strange as it may seem, to amuse the children and draw laughter from them, than to amuse grown-ups (writes George Graves, tho London comedian, in tho “Express”). The reason for this is obvious, for the range of humour that can be appreciated by older people is so much trader than tho children’s perception. Thus, sly political allusions to Lloyd George and the Insurance Bill, or to the Bulgarity of the war might make father and mother smile, but they would be utterly lost on the children. Therefore, when one comes as a laughter-maker to a pantomime such as we have at Drury Lane, it is necessary to adjust one’s humour more to tho children’s point of view, and to discover just what it is that makes the little ones laugh and enjoy themselves. JUST NONSENSE. Very few children, I think, approdate the wit of dialogue, the delicate humour of a clover “jeu de root,” but. that which appeals to them most is nonsense. That is the secret of it all. Sheer ridiculous, absurd nonsense. Tho sense of the ludicrous is developed enormously in the child mind. It will laugh at a comical face, at comical gestures, and there is nothing that gives it greater joy than to See anyone’being perfectly silly before them. I think the reason of this is not "far to seek. The child likes to see grownups behaving as children. That is why Uncle has such a success when he crawls about on all fours in the nursery and makes a noise like a gazeka in distress. Children appreciate the fun of comic misery—they like to, see a Comedian • burst into tears and sob, they like to see two people knocking each other about, while anybody who can tumble gracefully down a flight of steps is sore to bring tears of joy .to the child’s eyes. I tJrmlc in the present pantomime the children enjoy my appearance as a scarecrow because I look so absolutely moss-grown and dejected. Every time my joint creaks to show th© stiffness of the scarecrow’s legs 1 can hear ripples of laughter from the little dears in the audience. MERE REPETITION. The repetition of , one phrase, too, never fails to amuse them; it doesn’t matter what the phrase is so long as it is repeated- often enough. - In one scene Mr Will Evans and I indulge in reminiscences, at the end of which we sigh regretfully, and say, "Happy days. . . . Happy days.” You have no idea how that makes them laugh. Then, in another scene', wo:have-trou-ble with a cycle-car, winch goes off with a bang—tho absurdity of it appeals to them immensely. Later there are attempts to scale, the high* wall, of the Sleeping Beauty’s Palace. For all I know, the grown-up men and women may find the foolery dull, but there can be no doubt of its appealing to the children; for they simply rock with laughter when tho ladder breaks or when one of ns falls to the ground. You toe, the children know bow difficult it is to climb walls. Then, you know, there is that scene with the Song about assisting her sister, where I forget the words, and have to be prompted by people Who appear from behind trees and chairs; tho children, I am glad to say, seize the point at once. They think I have forgotten the words, and of course I get into such dreadful’ difficulties that it all seems real to them. They know what it is, you may bo sore, to have to recite and sing and forget the words. INFECTIOUS LAUGHTER. There is something infectious in the children’s laughter j we get it over the footlights, and it is the most encouraging reward that we can have for our efforts, but the chief difficulty of pantomime is that you must always bear in mind that the parents are there with the children., and they, too, must be kept amused. I suppose the children are inclined to ba_ bored by the words of a comic political song, but you kill their boredom by fantastic dancing and grotesque business. Therefore, the children are watching you and laughing at you, while the parents are listening and appreciating the wit of the words. Luckily, I'have several child friends to whom I am allowed to give repetitions generates, in order that I can accurately judge what appeals to them and what doesn’t. There is one thing that lessens the difficulty of amusing the children, and that is that they are all very much alike. They have no fads or fancies, and what amuses one will amuse all. Perhaps you may think that I have been wrong in drawing such a hard-and-fast lino between 'the 'sense of humour 'of children and grown-ups. “We, too,” you might say, “like abusrd nonsense. We, too, like to see somebody being knocked down on the stage and enjoy comic tears 1” Well, if you say that, it proves that I am right, for only those grown-ups come to pantomime who have the hearts of children, and who love the langhter of children.