What Is Farce? Definition & 15+ Examples

Have you ever watched a play or a movie where the situations were so exaggerated and absurd that you couldn’t help but laugh out loud? If so, you’ve most likely experienced the comedic genre known as farce.

Farce, a style of humor that relies on highly exaggerated situations and slapstick comedy, has entertained audiences for centuries with its unique blend of chaos, absurdity, and laugh-out-loud moments.

In this article, we will explore the definition of farce and provide examples that showcase its characteristics. We will delve into its beginnings and discuss how this humorous style has evolved over time, finding a home in theater, film, and even television.

To truly appreciate farce, let go of logic and enjoy the ride. After all, in the world of farce, anything can happen! So, prepare to embark on this journey through the amusing world of farcical entertainment, where the only rule is to expect the unexpected.

Let’s get started:

What Is a Farce?

A farce is a comedy sub-genre characterized by exaggerated and absurd situations, physical humor, and broadly drawn characters.

The concept of farce can be traced back to ancient Greece and Rome, where comedic plays often incorporated elements of slapstick and exaggerated situations.

It continued to gain popularity during the Middle Ages, with the introduction of comedic interludes known as “farcical interludes” in religious plays. These interludes were intended to provide comic relief during serious productions.

Over time, farce has evolved and adapted to suit different cultural contexts, always maintaining its core elements of exaggeration and absurdity. Depending on the time and place, farces have served various purposes, including:

• Satire
• Political commentary
• Pure entertainment

In recent years, the farce genre has continued to thrive across various forms of media, such as television, film, and theater. While the types of humor and subject matter may differ, all farces share a common goal: inducing laughter through outlandish situations and characters.

From Then to Now: The History of Farce

Ancient Greek and Roman Farce

Greek farces were short and humorous, often featuring stock characters and exaggerated situations. Playwrights such as Aristophanes created satirical farces that tackled current social and political issues.

Roman farces were influenced by Greek theater, but they also introduced new elements, such as combining farce with mime. The Roman playwright Plautus was known for his farcical comedies, where he satirized Roman society and poked fun at various stereotypes.

Medieval Farce

During the medieval period, farce evolved within the context of Christian morality plays. Farces often satirized religious figures and ridiculed the vices and follies of society.

Some notable examples of medieval farce include The Second Shepherds’ Play and Mankind. Farces were typically performed on temporary stages during religious festivals, and were aimed at entertaining and educating the audience through humor.

Renaissance and Commedia Dell’arte

The Renaissance brought about a resurgence of interest in classical theater and a renewed focus on comedy.

Italian commedia dell’arte emerged as an influential form of farce during this period. Commedia dell’arte performances were improvised (but not entirely), with actors relying on stock characters and scenarios. A typical commedia dell’arte troupe consisted of several actors who played specific character types such as:

• The miserly old man (pantalone)
• The witty servant (arlecchino)
• The young lovers (innamorati)

Throughout Europe, playwrights such as Shakespeare and Molière incorporated elements of farce into their works.

Shakespeare’s The Comedy of Errors and Molière’s Tartuffe are examples of farcical plays that employed mistaken identity, slapstick humor, and exaggerated situations to engage and amuse audiences. However, these playwrights also used comedy to explore serious themes such as social class, gender roles, hypocrisy, and morality.

Modern Farce

In the modern era, farce has continued to be a popular form of entertainment. Farces adapted to new mediums, such as radio, film, and television, while still relying on the traditional elements of exaggeration, satire, and physical comedy.

Farce continues to evolve, incorporating contemporary issues and reflecting changing social norms, but it remains a enduring form of comedy that brings laughter to audiences around the world.

A Comedy of Its Own: Farce vs. Other Forms of Comedy

Farce is a unique form of comedy characterized by its exaggerated and often physically humorous situations. Comparing it to comedy genres highlights its distinct characteristics.

Satire vs. Farce: A Study in Irony and Absurdity

Satire utilizes irony, sarcasm, and ridicule to critique or mock societal norms and institutions. In contrast, farce relies on slapstick and physical humor, often involving mistaken identities and comical misunderstandings. While satire aims to criticize, farce simply delights in its absurdity.

Black Comedy and Farce: Finding Humor in Darkness and Light

Black comedy, or dark humor, focuses on serious and often morbid subject matter, aiming to find humor in the face of tragedy. Farce, on the other hand, seeks to amuse its audience through light-hearted and nonsensical antics without delving into more complex themes.

Screwball Comedy Meets Farce: A Blend of Wit, Romance, and Confusion

Screwball comedy, a type of romantic comedy, emerged during the 1930s and 1940s with a blend of verbal wit and slapstick humor. Screwball comedies often center around a romantic couple navigating social classes, while farce draws laughter from confusion and miscommunication.

Fun Aside: If comedy genres were party guests, farce would be the one causing uproarious laughter with its ridiculous antics!

Characteristics and Elements of Farce

Exaggeration and Coincidence

Farce often involves extreme exaggeration and unlikely coincidences to create humor. Characters take situations to the extreme, causing unlikely events to occur with regularity. The humor in a farce often relies on these exaggerated behaviors and events, and addresses the absurdity of such occurrences.

Physical Humor

One common element in farce is physical humor, also known as slapstick comedy. This kind of humor relies on the physical actions and reactions of the characters involved, as they engage in:

• Accidents
• Spills
• Pratfalls
• Buffoonery
• Clowning

The physical comedy aspect of farces sets them apart from other comedic genres, giving them their own unique brand of humor.

Disguise and Mistaken Identity and Miscommunication

Farce often includes instances of disguise and mistaken identity. Characters may don a costume or disguise in an attempt to deceive others, leading to hilarious misunderstandings and situations.

This deception contributes to comedic confusion as other characters react to these false identities, often with dramatic irony. This can result in increasingly absurd scenarios, as characters unwittingly make errors that snowball into complete pandemonium.

The use of mistaken identities and miscommunication in farces adds another layer of complexity to the plot. It creates tension and anticipation as the audience watches the characters navigate the ensuing chaos, eagerly waiting for the inevitable unraveling of the misunderstandings.

Absurd Situations

Another key element of farce is the presence of absurd situations. These situations often result from the other elements mentioned above, such as exaggeration, coincidence, and mistaken identity.

As these situations unfold, the characters become entangled in increasingly absurd predicaments, creating a snowball effect of hilarity.

Fast-Paced Plot

Lastly, the plot of a farce typically moves at a rapid pace. This helps to maintain the comedic momentum and provide a sense of urgency as the characters navigate their way through the insane circumstances in which they find themselves.

Quick timing and rapid-fire dialogue are often employed to keep the pace moving quickly and to contribute to the sense of chaos that often envelopes farcical stories.

Caricatures and Stereotypes

Farces often feature caricatures and stereotypes to emphasize the ludicrous nature of the characters and the situations they find themselves in. These exaggerations make it easy for the audience to identify with the humor, as they can quickly recognize the roles assigned to each character.

Caricatures and stereotypes allow the humor in farces to cut across cultural and linguistic barriers, making it universally appealing.

Types of Farces

Comedy of Errors

A Comedy of Errors is a type of farce that relies heavily on mistaken identities, misunderstandings, and improbable coincidences to generate humor.

Usually, the plot is structured around several characters who become entangled in a web of confusion and miscommunication. This leads to hilarious situations and chaos as the truth is slowly revealed.

Comedy of Manners

In a Comedy of Manners, the humor comes from the satire of societal norms, customs, and etiquette. These are typically set in sophisticated environments, such as high society events or the homes of the upper class.

The characters in this type of farce often expose the hypocrisies, pretensions, and vanity of those around them, leading to amusing situations and witty dialogue.

Slapstick

Slapstick is a type of farce that primarily relies on physical comedy, timing, and exaggerated actions to create humor. It often includes pratfalls, tripping, falling, and other forms of clumsy or absurd behavior.

Props, such as pies being thrown, oversized mallets, and rubber chickens, can also be used to enhance the comedic effects of slapstick.

Burlesque

Burlesque refers to a type of farce that uses exaggeration, mockery, and broad humor to ridicule or satirize a subject. The goal is to poke fun at a specific topic, which can range from politics and social issues to literary works and famous people.

Famous Farces and Playwrights

Molière

Molière was a 17th-century French playwright considered one of the masters of farce. He is also an actor and a theatre director. His witty works often focused on hypocrisy and foolishness in society. Some famous Molière farces include:

• Tartuffe: A story about a man who uses false piety to deceive his host.
• The Miser: A comic tale of a greedy father and his children’s schemes to inherit his wealth.
• The Imaginary Invalid: A humorous tale of a hypochondriac desperate to cure his imagined illnesses.

Oscar Wilde

Oscar Wilde was a 19th-century Irish playwright known for his satirical farces. These plays mocked Victorian society’s morals and highlighted the absurdity of social conventions. Examples of his farces are:

• The Importance of Being Earnest: A story of mistaken identity and absurdities of contemporary social hierarchy.
• Lady Windermere’s Fan: A play that mocks the hypocrisy of public morality in the high society.

Georges Feydeau

Georges Feydeau was a French playwright who excelled at creating fast-paced farces during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. His works often revolve around misunderstandings and extramarital affairs. Some of his famous plays are:

• A Flea in Her Ear: A comical story of misunderstandings resulting from mistaken identity.
• La Dame de chez Maxim: A farce that follows the complications caused by a man’s indiscretions.

Michael Frayn

Michael Frayn is a contemporary British playwright, famous for his farce Noises Off. This play is a humorous exploration of the backstage chaos in a theatre production, often considered one of the best farces in modern theatre. It features:

• Slapstick comedy: The characters move frantically and engage in physical humor.
• Mistaken identity: Characters constantly misunderstand the situation, making the situation even more chaotic.
• A play within a play: The characters are actors in a production, adding another layer of complexity to the farce.

Farce in Action: Examples from Literature and Theatre

William Shakespeare’s Farces

Several of William Shakespeare’s plays incorporate elements of farce, including comic situations, misunderstandings, and physical humor.

• A Midsummer Night’s Dream

The characters find themselves caught in a web of romantic entanglements due to the meddling of fairies. The use of magical potions and transformations adds to the absurdity of the situation, creating a sense of whimsy and exaggeration.

• The Comedy of Errors

In The Comedy of Errors, another Shakespearean farce, two sets of identical twins unknowingly cross paths in the same city. The confusion surrounding their mistaken identities leads to a series of absurd situations and misunderstandings, including accusations of theft and infidelity.

The ridiculous circumstances create an atmosphere of hilarity and showcase the playwright’s skill at crafting comedic scenarios.

“The Importance of Being Earnest”

Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest is a classic example of a farce, with its intricate plot centered around mistaken identities, secret engagements, and witty banter.

Two central characters, Jack and Algernon, both pretend to have a fictitious brother named Ernest in order to pursue their romantic interests. This deception leads to a series of humorous complications, which are only resolved when the truth unravels at the end of the play.

The play’s tone is marked by Wilde’s clever use of wordplay and satire, as well as its focus on the absurdity of societal conventions.

Brandon Thomas’ “Charley’s Aunt”

Charley’s Aunt by Brandon Thomas is a popular farce that revolves around the antics of two university students, Jack and Charley.

In order to court their respective sweethearts, they invite them to meet Charley’s wealthy aunt from Brazil. However, when the aunt cancels her visit, the duo enlists their friend, Lord Fancourt Babberley, to disguise himself as the aunt in a desperate attempt to maintain appearances.

Throughout the play, “Charley’s aunt” becomes entangled in a series of comical situations, including romantic advances from other characters and attempts to maintain her facade. The clever use of cross-dressing and the confusion it creates add to the play’s farcical nature. The eventual arrival of the real aunt brings the farce to a close, as all misunderstandings are resolved and the young lovers unite.

In each of these examples, the key elements of farce — exaggerated characters, absurd situations, and physical comedy — are present, showcasing the enduring appeal and effectiveness of this literary and theatrical form.

From Page to Screen: Farce in Film and Television

Charlie Chaplin and Silent Films

Ever wondered how slapstick comedy translates from the stage to the screen? Farce has been an essential element in the history of film and television, starting with the silent film era.

One influential figure in this genre is Charlie Chaplin. He was a master of physical comedy, using exaggerated movements and facial expressions to convey humorous situations without the need for dialogue. Chaplin’s films showcased classic farce elements such as:

• Mistaken identities
• Mishaps
• Improbable scenarios

The Hangover Series

Fast forward to modern times, farce can be seen in popular film franchises such as The Hangover series. These films revolve around a group of friends who find themselves in increasingly absurd and hilarious circumstances.

The use of farce in The Hangover series can be attributed to the films’ over-the-top premises, physical comedy, and mix of eccentric characters. Farce is often used in these situations to evoke laughter and entertain the audience through its escalating outlandish situations.

Pop Culture Influence

Farce has also left a significant impact on pop culture, with various television shows and films using this comedic device to create memorable moments.

Examples:

• The classic British sitcom Fawlty Towers, which centers around the absurd happenings in a hotel run by the chaotic and mismanaged Basil Fawlty.
• The mockumentary-style sitcom The Office, where farcical situations often arise from office politics and characters’ quirks.

Examples of Contemporary Farce

Dario Fo

Dario Fo (1926-2016) was an Italian playwright, actor, and director, known for his satirical and thought-provoking farces. He won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1997 for his contribution to the world of theater.

One of his most famous works, Accidental Death of an Anarchist (1970), is a prime example of contemporary farce. In the play, Fo uses the investigation of a real-life suspicious death to expose political corruption and police brutality. Through slapstick humor and clever dialogue, Fo critiques the powerful while entertaining the audience.

Alan Ayckbourn

Alan Ayckbourn is a British playwright known for his prolific output and comedic farces that often revolve around the complexities of relationships and marriage. Born in 1939, Ayckbourn became a key figure in contemporary British theater, having written over 80 plays. Some of his best-known works include:

• The Norman Conquests (1973)

The Norman Conquests is a trilogy of plays set in different rooms of a house during the same weekend. The plays follow a group of six characters, including the titular Norman, whose romantic entanglements lead to a series of hilarious mishaps.

The trilogy showcases Ayckbourn’s talent for combining plot twists with physical comedy and biting humor, which are signature elements of his farces.

• Bedroom Farce (1975)

Bedroom Farce showcases Ayckbourn’s continued mastery of the genre, with the play taking place in three different bedrooms. While seemingly disconnected at first, the audience eventually discovers how each bedroom and the couples inside are intertwined through a series of comedic misunderstandings and accidents.

The play highlights Ayckbourn’s ability to create an engaging story through humorous peeks into people’s private lives.

Both artists have expertly utilized humorous situations and flawed characters to shed light on societal issues or showcase the absurdity of human relationships. Their plays remain influential in the theater world today and contribute to the ongoing legacy of the farce genre.

Farce in Politics and Democracy

Satire and Political Commentary

Farce has long been utilized as an important tool in the realm of politics and democracy. Satire and political commentary often employ farcical elements to poke fun at or criticize political figures, events, and policies.

By using humor and exaggeration, satirists are able to engage with their audiences and expose absurdities in the political sphere. This technique can prompt important discussions and encourage critical thinking.

One prominent example of satire in politics is Jonathan Swift’s A Modest Proposal, which used a farcical and absurd premise to highlight the plight of the Irish poor under British rule.

Today, satirical television shows like The Daily Show and Saturday Night Live have taken on the mantle of providing political commentary through humor and farce.

Recall Elections

In democratic systems, voters may sometimes encounter farcical situations when it comes to recall elections. A recall election is a process by which citizens can petition for the removal of a political figure from office before their term is up.

While the intent behind recall elections is to provide a mechanism for addressing corrupt or inept elected officials, the process can sometimes teeter on the edge of absurdity, with even the most inconsequential or frivolous complaints being taken seriously.

For example, in some instances, politicians have faced recall petitions over minor issues or personal grievances. While these cases may not always result in a successful recall, they highlight the occasional comical nature of political processes and serve as reminders of the need for balance and rationality in the exercise of democracy.

In conclusion, farce plays a significant role in politics and democracy by offering an avenue for:

• Expressing dissent.
• Raising awareness.
• Encouraging critical thinking.

Satire and recall elections, despite their occasional absurdities, provide valuable feedback to politicians and citizens alike, allowing the democratic process to evolve and adapt to changing circumstances.

Use of Language in Farce

Dialogue

In farces, the dialogue plays a crucial role in creating humor and driving the plot. The characters often engage in:

• Rapid-fire exchanges
• Misunderstandings
• Miscommunications

These quick-witted, sharp conversations can escalate the comic situation and highlight the absurdity of the events unfolding.

Puns, wordplay, and double entendres are commonly used in the dialogue to heighten the humor. These clever linguistic devices not only create laughter but also allow the writer to incorporate different levels of comedy, making the farce accessible to a wider audience.

The French Origin

Farce has its roots in the French language and tradition, with the term “farce” derived from the Old French word “farcer,” meaning to stuff or fill. This reflects how farce is filled with humor, exaggeration, and absurdity.

The French influence on farces is also seen in the language, especially in the use of malapropisms — the substitution of an incorrect word for one that sounds similar, often with humorous results.

For instance, French farce writer Molière frequently used malapropisms in his plays, such as Monsieur Jourdain’s attempt to speak “high-class” language in the play Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme. Here’s an example:

Monsieur Jourdain: "He [the King] did me the honor of dining at my house… with familiarity and cerembellity."

The incorrect use of “cerembellity” instead of “ceremony” creates a comic effect, poking fun at Monsieur Jourdain’s attempt to fit into high society. This technique of language distortion in farce is used:

• To provide comic relief.
• To criticize social norms.
• To demonstrate the absurdity of a situation.

Why We Laugh: The Importance and Influence of Farce

The Cultural and Artistic Significance of Farce

Farce, as a comedic genre, holds a significant cultural and artistic place in society. Its appeal lies in its ability to provide laughter and amusement through exaggerated situations, absurd characters, and fast-paced action. Farce often acts as a social commentary, poking fun at human follies and the absurdity of life.

The Influence of Farce in Comedy and Storytelling

The influence of farce extends beyond the stage and can be seen in various other forms of comedy and storytelling. From theater and literature to television and film, elements of farce contribute to the humor or plotlines in several genres. Some common farce techniques include:

• Physical humor
• Mistaken identities
• Misunderstandings

You’ll be surprised to know how much your favorite sitcom owes to the tradition of farce! Many popular contemporary TV shows, for example, use farcical elements to create humor and carry their storylines.

Societal Commentary: The Deeper Purpose of Farce

Farce serves an important purpose socially by engaging audiences and encouraging them to laugh at themselves and the world around them.

While rooted in humor, farce often touches on deeper themes and allows for exploration of societal issues through its comedic lens. This unique blend of entertainment and societal critique has allowed farce to endure and evolve over time.

The ongoing relevance and success of farce demonstrates its importance as an artistic form and its ability to both entertain and challenge audiences.

Pro Tip: To truly appreciate farce, let go of logic and enjoy the ride. After all, in the world of farce, anything can happen!

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

In this article, we examined the definition of farce, its unique characteristics, and provided a few notable examples.

Farce, a form of comedy, originated in ancient Greece and is characterized by its exaggerated and absurd situations, physical humor, and fast-paced action. It often rely on various comedic techniques such as mistaken identities, incongruity, wordplay, and slapstick.

So, next time you find yourself doubled over with laughter at some outrageously exaggerated comedy, remember — you have the wonderful world of farce to thank for it!