History Theatre / BlackComedy1965

* MistakenForSpecialGuest: Schuppanzigh, the electrician sent to repair Brindsley's blown fuse, [[ContrivedCoincidence just so happens]] to be a highly-educated German expatriate with a special interest in art. He's very taken with Brindsley's sculpture, so of course everyone thinks he is Bamberger until he agrees to buy the sculpture for 500 guineas- if he had the money.

-->-- '''[[UnsympatheticComedyProtagonist Brindsley Miller]]'''

* PowerOutagePlot: Hence the title, most of the play takes place "in the dark" after a fuse blows, humour being derived from a never-ending stream of {{BlindMistake}}s.

* PowerOutagePlot: Hence the title, most of the play takes place "in the dark" after a fuse blows, humour being derived from frequent incidences of BlindMistake.

* UnsympatheticComedyProtagonist: Brindsley is a [[{{Jerkass}} pretentious snob]] who bosses his fiancée around, is implied to be [[SexWithTheEx two-timing]] with Clea, insults the telephone operator ([[DirtyCoward but not directly, of course]]) and [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking produces ridiculous art]]. Watching his life fall apart is very satisfying, and there's a reason he's on the receiving end of ''all'' of the play's {{Slapstick}}.

In [[TheSixties 1960s]] UsefulNotes/{{London}}, [[StarvingArtist Unsuccessful sculptor]] Brindsley Miller and his debutante fiancée [[TheDitz Carol Melkett]] are preparing to host Carol's "[[BoyfriendBlockingDad Monster father]]" Colonel Melkett and art-collecting EccentricMillionaire Georg Bamberger for dinner in Brindsley's Kensington flat, spruced up for the occasion with some rather expensive antique furniture "borrowed" from holidaying next-door neighbour [[CampGay Harold Gorringe]], a [[OopNorth Yorkshire]]-born antiques dealer, when their plans are rudely interrupted by a [[PowerOutagePlot blown fuse]]. With an electrician on the way, Brindsley attempts to salvage the evening, but the arrival of uninvited guests ([[TheTeetotaler Teetotal]] elderly upstairs neighbour [[OldMaid Miss]] [[PreachersKid Furnival]] as well as Brindsley's vivacious OldFlame [[TheGadfly Clea]]) and Harold's unexpectedly early return force him to [[FawltyTowersPlot spin an elaborate web]] [[BlatantLies of lies]] in an attempt to keep his guests [[RuleOfSymbolism in the dark]] by concealing Harold's stolen furniture and Clea's presence. But as [[ForegoneConclusion you've probably already guessed]], there's really [[FinaglesLaw only one way]] the night can [[HilarityEnsues end]].

In [[TheSixties 1960s]] UsefulNotes/{{London}}, [[StarvingArtist Unsuccessful sculptor]] Brindsley Miller and his debutante fiancée [[TheDitz Carol Melkett]] are preparing to host Carol's "[[BoyfriendBlockingDad Monster father]]" Colonel Melkett and art-collecting EccentricMillionaire Georg Bamberger in Brindsley's for dinner Kensington flat, spruced up for the occasion with some rather expensive antique furniture "borrowed" from holidaying next-door neighbour [[CampGay Harold Gorringe]], a [[OopNorth Yorkshire]]-born antiques dealer, when their plans are rudely interrupted by a [[PowerOutagePlot blown fuse]]. With an electrician on the way, Brindsley attempts to salvage the evening, but the arrival of uninvited guests ([[TheTeetotaler Teetotal]] elderly upstairs neighbour [[OldMaid Miss]] [[PreachersKid Furnival]] as well as Brindsley's vivacious OldFlame [[TheGadfly Clea]]) and Harold's unexpectedly early return force him to [[FawltyTowersPlot spin an elaborate web]] [[BlatantLies of lies]] in an attempt to keep his guests [[RuleOfSymbolism in the dark]] by concealing Harold's stolen furniture and Clea's presence. But as [[ForegoneConclusion you've probably already guessed]], there's really [[FinaglesLaw only one way]] the night can [[HilarityEnsues end]].

A 1965 one-act play penned by British playwright Creator/PeterShaffer, ''Black Comedy'' includes some elements of BlackComedy, but is really a {{Farce}} -- the title is a PunnyName referring to the play's lighting gimmick of "Chinese Darkness" -- whenever it is light onstage, the actors will be in "darkness", and vice versa. This of course requires the actors to pretend to stumble around blindly while they can in fact see perfectly well (although some directors have used [[EnforcedMethodActing blindfolded rehearsals]] to get around this).

A 1965 one-act play penned by British playwright Creator/PeterShaffer, ''Black Comedy'' includes some elements of BlackComedy, but is really a quintessential example of British {{Farce}} - the title is a PunnyName referring to the play's lighting gimmick of "Chinese Darkness" - whenever it is light onstage, the actors will be in "darkness", and vice versa. This of course requires the actors to pretend to stumble around blindly while they can in fact see perfectly well (although some directors have used [[EnforcedMethodActing blindfolded rehearsals]] to get around this).

In [[TheSixties 1960s]] UsefulNotes/{{London}}, [[StarvingArtist Unsuccessful sculptor]] Brindsley Miller and his debutante fiancée [[TheDitz Carol Melkett]] are preparing to host Carol's "[[BoyfriendBlockingDad Monster father]]" Colonel Melkett as well as and art-collecting EccentricMillionaire Georg Bamberger in Brindsley's for dinner Kensington flat, spruced up for the occasion with some rather expensive antique furniture "borrowed" from holidaying next-door neighbour [[CampGay Harold Gorringe]], a [[OopNorth Yorkshire]]-born antiques dealer, when their plans are rudely interrupted by a [[PowerOutagePlot blown fuse]]. With an electrician on the way, Brindsley attempts to salvage the evening, but the arrival of uninvited guests ([[TheTeetotaler Teetotal]] elderly upstairs neighbour [[OldMaid Miss]] [[PreachersKid Furnival]] as well as Brindsley's vivacious OldFlame [[TheGadfly Clea]]) and Harold's unexpectedly early return force him to [[FawltyTowersPlot spin an elaborate web]] [[BlatantLies of lies]] in an attempt to keep his guests [[RuleOfSymbolism in the dark]] by concealing Harold's stolen furniture and Clea's presence. But as [[ForegoneConclusion you've probably already guessed]], there's really [[FinaglesLaw only one way]] the night can [[HilarityEnsues end]].

In [[TheSixties 1960s]] UsefulNotes/{{London}}, [[StarvingArtist Unsuccessful sculptor]] Brindsley Miller and his debutante fiancée [[TheDitz Carol Melkett]] are preparing for a evening with Carol's "[[BoyfriendBlockingDad Monster father]]" Colonel Melkett and wealthy art collector and EccentricMillionaire Georg Bamberger in Brindsley's Kensington flat, spruced up for the occasion with some rather expensive antique furniture "borrowed" from holidaying next-door neighbour [[CampGay Harold Gorringe]], a [[OopNorth Yorkshire]]-born antiques dealer, when their plans are rudely interrupted by a [[PowerOutagePlot blown fuse]]. With an electrician on the way, Brindsley attempts to salvage the evening, but the arrival of uninvited guests ([[TheTeetotaler Teetotal]] elderly upstairs neighbour [[OldMaid Miss]] [[PreachersKid Furnival]] as well as Brindsley's vivacious OldFlame [[TheGadfly Clea]]) and Harold's unexpectedly early return force him to [[FawltyTowersPlot spin an elaborate web]] [[BlatantLies of lies]] in an attempt to keep his guests [[RuleOfSymbolism in the dark]] by concealing Harold's stolen furniture and Clea's presence. But as [[ForegoneConclusion you've probably already guessed]], there's really [[FinaglesLaw only one way]] the night can [[HilarityEnsues end]].

In [[TheSixties 1960s]] UsefulNotes/{{London}}, [[StarvingArtist Unsuccessful sculptor]] Brindsley Miller and his debutante fiancée TheDitz Carol Melkett are preparing for a evening with Carol's "[[BoyfriendBlockingDad Monster father]]" Colonel Melkett and wealthy art collector EccentricMillionaire Georg Bamberger in Brindsley's Kensington flat, spruced up for the occasion with some rather expensive antique furniture "borrowed" from holidaying next-door neighbour [[CampGay Harold Gorringe]], a [[OopNorth Yorkshire]]-born antiques dealer, when their plans are rudely interrupted by a [[PowerOutagePlot blown fuse]]. With an electrician on the way, Brindsley attempts to salvage the evening, but the arrival of uninvited guests ([[TheTeetotaler Teetotal]] elderly upstairs neighbour [[OldMaid Miss]] [[PreachersKid Furnival]] as well as Brindsley's vivacious OldFlame [[TheGadfly Clea]]) and Harold's unexpectedly early return force him to [[FawltyTowersPlot spin an elaborate web]] [[BlatantLies of lies]] in an attempt to keep his guests [[RuleOfSymbolism in the dark]] by concealing Harold's stolen furniture and Clea's presence. But as [[ForegoneConclusion you've probably already guessed]], there's really [[FinaglesLaw only one way]] the night can [[HilarityEnsues end]].

In [[TheSixties 1960s]] UsefulNotes/{{London}}, [[StarvingArtist Unsuccessful sculptor]] [[UnsympatheticComedyProtagonist Brindsley Miller]] and his debutante fiancée [[TheDitz Carol]] [[GirlyGirl Melkett]] are preparing for a evening with Carol's "[[BoyfriendBlockingDad Monster father]]" [[LargeHam Colonel]] [[NoIndoorVoice Melkett]] and wealthy art collector [[EccentricMillionaire Georg Bamberger]] in Brindsley's Kensington flat, spruced up for the occasion with some rather expensive antique furniture "borrowed" from holidaying next-door neighbour [[CampGay Harold Gorringe]], a [[OopNorth Yorkshire]]-born antiques dealer, when their plans are rudely interrupted by a [[PowerOutagePlot blown fuse]]. With an electrician on the way, Brindsley attempts to salvage the evening, but the arrival of uninvited guests ([[TheTeetotaler Teetotal]] elderly upstairs neighbour [[OldMaid Miss]] [[PreachersKid Furnival]] as well as Brindsley's vivacious OldFlame [[TheGadfly Clea]]) and Harold's unexpectedly early return force him to [[FawltyTowersPlot spin an elaborate web]] [[BlatantLies of lies]] in an attempt to keep his guests [[RuleOfSymbolism in the dark]] by concealing Harold's stolen furniture and Clea's presence. But as [[ForegoneConclusion you've probably already guessed]], there's really [[FinaglesLaw only one way]] the night can [[HilarityEnsues end]].

* ImprovisedWeapon: The abstract sculpture Brindsley is hoping to sell to Bamberger has [[ChekhovsGun two large, detachable prongs]]- perfect for [[spoiler: a livid Colonel and Harold to menace Brindsley with in the final moments of the play.]]

* AffectionateNickname: "Dumpling" is the Colonel's for Carol- and if the actress playing her is especially thin, as per the stage directions, it doubles as an IronicName.

While far less well known than Shaffer's other works ''Theatre/{{Amadeus}}'' and ''Theatre/{{Equus}}'', the play remains fairly popular as a script for amateur dramatics groups and the SchoolPlay, as well as enjoying revivals from time to time. Incidentally, the original 1965 run featured what would become an impressive AllStarCast (not so much at the time as many of the actors were early in their careers), including Creator/DerekJacobi as Brindsley, Creator/MaggieSmith as Clea and Creator/AlbertFinney as Harold, alongside Louise Purnell as Carol, Doris Hare as Miss Furnival, and Graham Crowden as the Colonel.

In [[TheSixties 1960s]] UsefulNotes/{{London}}, [[StarvingArtist Unsuccessful sculptor]] [[UnsympatheticComedyProtagonist Brindsley Miller]] and his debutante fiancée [[TheDitz Carol]] [[GirlyGirl Melkett]] are preparing for a evening with Carol's "[[OverprotectiveDad Monster father]]" [[LargeHam Colonel]] [[NoIndoorVoice Melkett]] and wealthy art collector [[EccentricMillionaire Georg Bamberger]] in Brindsley's Kensington flat, spruced up for the occasion with some rather expensive antique furniture "borrowed" from holidaying next-door neighbour [[CampGay Harold Gorringe]], a [[OopNorth Yorkshire]]-born antiques dealer, when their plans are rudely interrupted by a [[PowerOutagePlot blown fuse]]. With an electrician on the way, Brindsley attempts to salvage the evening, but the arrival of uninvited guests ([[TheTeetotaler Teetotal]] elderly upstairs neighbour [[OldMaid Miss]] [[PreachersKid Furnival]] as well as Brindsley's vivacious OldFlame [[TheGadfly Clea]]) and Harold's unexpectedly early return force him to [[FawltyTowersPlot spin an elaborate web]] [[BlatantLies of lies]] in an attempt to keep his guests [[RuleOfSymbolism in the dark]] by concealing Harold's stolen furniture and Clea's presence. But as [[ForegoneConclusion you've probably already guessed]], there's really [[FinaglesLaw only one way]] the night can [[HilarityEnsues end]].

* OverprotectiveDad: Colonel Melkett is ''very'' distrustful of Brindsley, and offers him [[IfYouEverDoAnythingToHurtHer a few pointers]] on how to treat his daughter - the only think keeping him from trying to end their relationship for most of the play is Carol's status as his DaddysGirl. Evidently, [[{{JustifiedTrope}} his instincts are absolutely right]].

* ClingyJealousGirl: As soon as Carol accidentally lets slip to Clea that she and Brindsley are engaged, she swiftly proceeds to humiliate him and exposes his lies about their relationship. Although, it's somewhat understandable given that "Brin" very much appeared to be trying to keep both relationships going at the same time.

->'''Harold:''' ''"Now? Do you think this is quite the moment?"''\\

->'''Harold:''' ''"Now? Do you think this is quite the moment?"''

* SlapSlapKiss: Brindsley and Clea's relationship is characterised by this - after the latter's through RelationshipSabotage of Brindsley's engagement, the two get into a fierce arguement which devolves into [[BelligerentSexualTension teasing]] before the two [[AwLookTheyReallyDoLoveEachOther reconcile]].