Theatresports: when a scene fails to trigger laughter

Abstract

Pragmatic-cognitive processes involved in interpretation of humor that are closer to the casual dialogical interactions can be analyzed in theatresports, such as those proposed by Cia. Barbixas de Humor in Improvável – um espetáculo provavelmente bom (Improbable – a probably good show). For example, in Cenas improváveis (Improbable scenes), the actors are expected to improvise coherent scenes based on unexpected stimuli offered by the audience and raffled by the master of ceremonies. Starting from the assumption that the game requires ostensive-inferential skills and competencies guided by Sperber and Wilson (1986, 1995) notion of relevance, in this article we analyze a scene where the actors fail to get the intended comic effect.