Since I was actually performing for Chaucer in the HUB, I was up close and personal to the whole ordeal. It was interesting how the things that would have been funny to the original audience was still funny for a contemporary one. For instance in the Second Nun's Priest's Tale with the story of Chaunticlair. All audience's would think that the story of Chaunticlair is funny, because of the ridiculous behavior of Chaunticlair and the Fox. The moment when the Fox tricks Chaunticlair is funny because Chaunticlair is so stupid, and then the way that Chaunticlair tricks the fox is funny because it is also so stupid.
Then the N-Town Play The Trial of Mary and Joseph also had some funny moments. The addition of the hick detractors was funny because they brought in a lower class element to a story about high and important religion. They get to make crude jokes that would have been funny for both audiences, making light of a very important religious moment, even if it wasn't entirely biblical. It would not have been a very interesting or engaging play for the common folk because it is such a religious play.
The Chaucer class, if I must say, did an amazing job of performing these two plays. They were funny and convincing, for not being professional actors.
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