Making a serious topic funny

[Ventguy]

It has been a real challenge to write my anti-bullying show. It was so hard to inject humour in such a serious subject but I knew I had to because if they aren't laughing, they aren't listening.

Anyone else tried to do this?

[Tom Crowl]

I'm working on a "Respect & Responsibility" Character Education show right now. The show is the end of the month, so I have to get busy!

When working for students with an educational message, I am going to take two approaches and hope that one works out. The first, the character really doesn't understand what I'm trying to explain. The comedy should grow out of the mis-communication. By the time the puppet understands, hopefully the students will too.

The second approach is the puppet is smarter regarding the subject than I am. It acts as the "teacher" and treats me as a student - not child.

With both of these, I believe the laughs will be there yet the message should shine through.

[Ventguy]

I am taking the first approach - clearing up their misconceptions and answering questions as well as getting input from the kids.

[ljl]

I did a show for a grief camp for children who had experienced a death in their family and that was a real challenge too. A very serious subject but yet I wanted to include some humor. I, too, had some of my characters have misconceptions as to how to help my puppet who had experienced a death in her family. That is where the humor came in while still addressing a serious subject. The facilitators of the event were very pleased with my program. But it was one of the hardest programs I had ever written. I did quite a bit of research into children's grief in order to write it and that helped me to know where to include the humor! The children responded very positively.