Can You Answer The Question: What Is Comedy?

What Is Comedy?

Working in domiciliary (home) care is a serious business; so a little light relief is always welcome: And there are few more effective ways of delivering that relief than through comedy. Have you ever wondered, though, what comedy is? if you have; you are in fine company. Stan Laurel is on record as saying: "A friend once asked me what comedy was. That floored me. What is comedy? I don't know. Does anybody? Can you define it?"

Stan Laurel, one half of one of the greatest comedy double acts in history, did not know what comedy is. Can you believe it? 

If that has got you thinking about what comedy is; let me tell you that I have the answer. Sadly, the great man died some time ago so I cannot share it with him. I can, however, share it with you. But why should you believe me? That is a very good point; a very good point indeed. You do not know me, and I must confess that my qualifications for answering the question do not rank highly.

Having confessed to one deficiency, I might as well go on a roll. I'm not actually able to tell you, in so many words, here and now, in this article, what comedy is. But if Stan Laurel didn't have the answer; I'm in good company

I'm not be able to tell you the answer; however, I can do something much better than that. I can show you what it is. At least, I can if you accept my invitation to a charity comedy evening. At this event, there will be a group of well qualified people who will demonstrate the art of comedy. This group of people will be performing at our charity comedy evening. Allow me, then, formally to invite you to:  A Charity Comedy Evening at Bernie's Chocolate Bar, sponsored by Caremark Thanet. The event starts at 7.30 pm on Friday 30 June 2017.

Now you know where to find the answer to the question "what is comedy?" why not come along? In doing so, you will not only have the balm of insight applied to the itch of curiosity you will also be helping the worthiest of causes:  East Kent Hospital's Dementia Appeal.  

Dementia

Dementia is not a disease; it is caused by other diseases.  Dementia respects no-one. It has no sympathy for illness, for gender or status. It is not a natural part of aging though age makes us more susceptible. Dementia will touch the lives of many of us. It is estimated that in Thanet there are over 2000 dementia patients and this figure will rise to approximately 3000 in 2026. In Kent the figures are over 22 000 current patients rising to over 30 000 in 2026.

Please Join Us

I hope you can join us on 30 June. We have a wonderful cast of comedy talent lined up. Some very experienced; some less so including one or two first time performers. We have old and young: there is a 60-year age gap between our oldest and youngest performers.

Whatever money is raised on the night Caremark Thanet will match up to £500.

The cost is £5 on the door. Please tell your friends. Please share this article with your friends. There’s no need to dress up, but you can if you want: and if you do dress up, as Stan’s partner Ollie didn’t say: “that’s another evening dress I’ve got you into.”

I promise the jokes on the night will be far superior to that.

Garry Costain is the Managing Director of Caremark Thanet, a domiciliary care provider with offices in Margate, Kent. Caremark Thanet provides home care services throughout the Isle of Thanet. Garry can be contacted on 01843 235910 or email garry.costain@caremark.co.uk. You can also visit Caremark Thanet's website at www.caremark.co.uk/thanet.