Just Laughs

Characters:

-One person in a “Joker (like clown)” costume: preferably Ben Sala

-Five people dressed in black, all solemn and unemotional characters

Props:

-three chairs stage left (angled toward center)

-three chairs stage right (angled toward center)

-audience must be able to see the facial expressions of the characters

-enough stage room to pace around in, depending on who is cast as the “joker-clown”

* * * * *

Five characters enter and sit on chairs facing the audience. Each one of them slowly scans the room, but show no emotion or expression.

“Joker” enters and attempts to make eye contact with the five other characters, but is unable to succeed. Paces around and stands front and center in front of the audience. Looks left and right. Repeat. Smiles awkwardly and begins to chuckle. The laugh should start slowly but grow to be a hearty laugh. During this time, the five other characters still show no emotion, one even pulls out yarn and starts knitting. Getting no reaction from the five people, the Joker gives up, and takes off his costume, revealing a black outfit and sits down on a chair stage right and has a somber facial expression. Characters exit.