Farce

A comedic fantasy is farcical when it juxtaposes obvious inversions and antitheses. Stock examples are the servant who comically impersonates his master and other variations of the mock-king; travesties in which sex-roles are improbably interchanged; and the over-night millionaire or over-night pauper who comically enters his new sphere of existence. The farce characteristically applies its humour of improbability to situations concerning changes in wealth, power and sexual and social relations, although the assumptions of improbability made by writer and audience often reflect traditionalist mentalities. The farce, in fact, may signal to the subconscious a threat to cherished values. This creates a comedic tension which is released by theatrical exaggeration and absurdity, sometimes expressed by physical clowning or buffoonery and physical or verbal indecency.