Please see the post Drama!Drama!Drama! for the beginning of this series.

Writing Comedy in a church production is crucial in my book because I, like most, love to laugh. In fact, I love to belly laugh, wholeheartedly, etc…. Laughter is a medicine, the Scriptures declare it. Scientific studies are now declaring this type of information, even that laughing burns calories. That ought to get you going!

One of the joys of my life with my son was watching him develop a sense of humor. Priceless. The point being: We all  LOVE to laugh.

So back to my original statement. Comedy is crucial when presenting a message to anyone, especially the non-believer, the unchurched and general public at large.  It opens the door to what you want to say as crowds are paying attention, in turn, dropping pre-conceived notions of “church”, and they walk right on in to your message.

Comedy is an icebreaker in any sense (spiritual or not) and when someone is laughing they are not turning you off. So the reverse is true: the longer that opportunity (attention through laughter) lasts, the longer you have to proclaim your message. Turn them off and your door is closed. I understand that not all will receive it, I understand some are coming just to be entertained, but ultimately it is worth trying. I know it has been for the lives touched and souls saved by we have done alone, not tomention other Christians doing the same throughout the world.

To those that say that the use of lights, sound and production never will walk anyone into heaven, I agree. These things alone will not, but when used rightly dividing the WORD of GOD and then subsequently using these things in a similar fashion, souls will be added to the kingdom of GOD for just such an effort. I have seen it.

Back to our subject at hand.

When writing comedy, if you don’t think it is funny, then the audience most likely will not either; so this is why I think of things which make me laugh out loud.

Quite probably one of the most ingenious comedy routines in history, is “Who’s On First Base?”, the classic comedy routine of Abbott & Costello, and this is upon what I based my first attempt at comedic writing.

Our little church presentation needed comedy to deliver as we had a Christmas audience with lots of visitors, and we had a leading actor who could handle comdeic material. S0 I thought of the “Now-Now” of Spaceballs (remember that?) and worked that type of routine into our Christmas play Scrounge where the spirit of Christmas Present wakes up our leading character. Present’s Now routine was a big hit for our production.

There is more to say, but if you cannot find it within yourself to write funny material always be inspired by the classics. And if you are not charging for an event, honoring classic material can be life to party or a production! And maybe the icebreaker for someone to hear the message and enter into a relationship with JESUS CHRIST.