Absurd Person Singular
Introduction
A “Comedy”
• A black comedy (or dark comedy) is a comic
work that employs black humor, which, in its
most basic definition, is humor that makes
light of otherwise serious subject matter
Its Purpose
• The purpose of black comedy is to make light of
serious and often taboo subject matter, and some
comedians use it as a tool for exploring vulgar
issues, thus provoking discomfort and serious
thought as well as amusement in their audience.
Popular themes of the genre include murder,
suicide, depression, abuse, mutilation, war,
barbarism, drug abuse, terminal illness, domestic
violence, sexual violence, paedophilia, insanity,
nightmare, disease, racism, homophobia, sexism,
disability (both physical and mental), chauvinism,
corruption, and crime.
Alan Ayckbourn
• A prolific English playwright. He has written
and produced more than seventy full-length
plays in Scarborough and London between
1972 and 2009.
Absurd Person Singular
Major Themes
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Wealth and Power: Wealth and Status
Marital Relationships: Feminism and Power
Addiction: Drugs and Alcoholism
Infidelity: Men Cheating on their Wives
Question:
• Do you feel different about the play after
watching it? Why? Why not?
Addiction:
• Eva, Geoffrey’s wife is addicted to painkillers. We
are subtly introduced to this in Act 1 where she
asks for a glass of water and says, “I have to take
these,” pills in her hand and when asked by
Sidney if she is sick she says, “Depends on what
you mean by ill, doesn’t it.” This implies her
depression, but also addiction.
• At the opening of Act 2 we see Eva addicted to
drugs as Geoffrey plans on leaving her
Addiction Continued…
• The idea that Eva’s addiction is tied to
Geoffrey’s infidelity and abuse is also quite
evident.
• Ayckbourn demonstrates how influential
people can be while demonstrating the
interdependence of one another in a
relationship.
Cleaning
• It is clear that Jane cleans in order to cope with what is
going on in her life and the challenges that her and
Sidney face both in their marriage and in their
social/economic lives. At the end of Act 1 when Sidney
angers, Jane sings happily “Release me”, which
symbolizes her happiness while cleaning when coping
with the scolding Sidney just gave her.
Business in the Kitchen
• Major occurrences occur in the kitchen. They
kitchen then serves as a place where things
happen in Act 1. The men all discuss business in
the kitchen and when the women do enter things
happen (Eva takes drugs).
• The kitchen is therefore the area where the
drama happens and the living room is where the
party happens.