For this project, we had to create a humor performance. We had many options for what we could do, including stand-up comedy, comedic sketches and skits, as well as satire.
I chose to do a stand up performance, using my experiences in life to tell stories with the different comedic techniques we learned about in English.
The Script
So I wouldn’t consider myself funny. I mean, I have my moments but everyone does. I’m not special or anything. So here are some stories, that might be funny.
Now, I don’t remember when, but we were at this petting zoo. They had llamas.
Llamas, the animal with an unnecessary L at the beginning of its name.
So I was by these animals, and one just walked up to me and spat in my face. I mean, what did I do to deserve this animal’s spit? Did my presence offend this llama in some way? Did my super-straight, probably greasy hair get on its nerves? Did I smell? Whatever. I didn’t like that llama either.
In other news, I went to the hospital in March.
But before I was diagnosed with iron anemia and heavy bleeding, I think I cried more in the past week than I did in my high school career. So I was texting my parents, and my mom was saying go to the doctor. But I didn’t want to go to the doctor alone. I didn’t want to take an uber there because I don’t have my license yet. My parents keep bugging me about that, but who needs a license when you don’t have a social life? The only places I go are school, work, and my house.
Anyways, my friends were freaking out and I was like ‘this is chill. This is fine.’. Because it was. It wasn’t a life experience or anything. That happened when I was in 6th grade, when the doctors in the ER thought I was constipated when I actually had appendicitis. I was in the hospital for a week, and I named a stuffed penguin Tanya because my surgeon guessed the name of my stuffed dog.
I named the dog cocoa, and he got it on the first try.
Life experiences.
They’re great.
Anywho, my family and I were doing our annual road trip to Iowa and we stopped at a KFC. Naturally, being a young, innocent little child, I ordered the kids meal because it came with a prize. So I go rummaging in the paper bag, and I couldn’t find the little plastic toy for the life of me.
But I COULD find a stick of string cheese.
So I say “and the prize is. . .” I pause for dramatic effect, “cheese!” And they just start laughing. And I’m sitting there glaring at my family. It’s been years and it’s still their goto story. It’s NOT THAT FUNNY. Really, it isn’t. If you laughed at that, I’m concerned.
We all have those little things that annoy us. And they don’t seem like they should annoy us. You know, like my iron anemia and heavy bleeding.
Well, my parents have this tendency to take something and run with it. Normally, I’d listen and smile and let people go off on tangents. Not that I don’t do that with my parents. So I bring up Salt Lake City in the car, and my mom begins to talk about everything we’ve done. Now, I don’t remember half of what she’s saying but I smile and nod. That’s what we all do when we’re not really listening, right? I’m pretty sure that’s what half of you have been doing this entire time. I would be doing the same thing, if I had to listen to myself.
So those things happened. I swear. My mom and dad can vouch, but my mom might tell the story of the cheese again. She loves it. That was me, attempting to be funny by telling stories.
The Video
Here’s me being super awkward for 6 minutes.
Reflecting on the project
Overall, I feel like I could’ve done better. I went off script occasionally, which is allowed, but despite practicing the script, I still stumbled over a few lines. However, I did perform in front of a large group of people, which, while not new to me, still makes me a nervous wreck.
I enjoyed watching everybody’s performance during the days set aside for the humor performances, and while I probably won’t pursue comedy as a career, it was a nice experience to have.