- A play that blends elements of both comedy and tragedy.
- The plot often involves serious and sorrowful events but also contains humorous or light-hearted moments.
- Examples: The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare and Tartuffe by Moliere.
Dark Comedy:
- A comedic work that deals with serious and often controversial subjects, such as death, illness, or social injustice, in a humorous or satiric way.
- The humor is often dark and acerbic, and the play may explore the absurdity or hypocrisy of human behavior.
- Examples include: Dr. Strangelove or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964), The Death of Stalin (2017)
Melodrama:
- A dramatic work characterized by exaggerated emotions, sensational plot devices, and a strong moral or emotional appeal.
- It involves heightened language and situations and often deals with themes of love, betrayal, and revenge.
- Examples: Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe and East Lynne by Ellen Wood
Farce:
- A type of comedy that relies on slapstick humor, mistaken identities, and other physical and verbal humor.
- It often involves exaggerated characters and improbable situations and is intended to be light-hearted and entertaining.
- Examples include: A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum by Stephen Sondheim and The Play That Goes Wrong by Henry Lewis, Jonathan Sayer, and Henry Shields