![]() ![]() And while scientists have been investigating humor since at least the 1960s, only recently have they brought the data together into encompassing theories of humor, says University of Western Ontario psychology professor Rod Martin, PhD, author of "The Psychology of Humor: An Integrative Approach" (Academic Press, 2006). Like these comedians, some psychologists are attempting to pinpoint exactly what people laugh at, and why. "Sometimes I'll do something that I don't even intend to be funny, and it will be hysterical to someone." "As a performer, can be very disorienting," says WIT member Anna Trester. "When they see that, it resonates with them and it causes them, for some reason, to laugh."Įxactly what people will find funny, however, often surprises Bellavia and his fellow actors. "Our basic mantra is 'truth in comedy.' People want to see themselves on stage, and they want to see people they know on stage," says Bellavia, who also teaches a class on improv comedy. The improv troupe exaggerated that-exposing the absurdity of competitive relaxation to get a rise out of their audience. The "yoga off," for example, may remind people of times when they felt judged by others in an exercise class. ![]() According to longtime WIT member Topher Bellavia, the secret to creating a successful scene is to mirror the world in a slightly askew way. ![]() This was a recent scene performed by Washington Improv Theater (WIT)-a set of D.C.-based comedy troupes that invents plays on the fly. A man steps onto the stage behind them and shouts, "Three, two, one: yoga off!" As the women glare at each other and begin stretching, the audience erupts with laughter. They look into the middle distance, their faces flat with concentration. The two women on stage stretch their calf muscles and lean into the starting blocks. ![]()
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