ABSTRACT
Chapter 1 introduces the reader to the first ‘Door’: Domestic Farce. Domestic Farce is one of the most popular and recognisable types of farce and is the one most often associated with the genre. The chapter begins with a short overview of the ‘well-made play’ and how this popular form influenced 19th-century French playwrights Eugène Labiche and Georges Feydeau to craft what are often referenced as prime examples of modern domestic farce. The chapter outlines how contemporary domestic farce moves towards more serious issues. Beyond the traditional ‘bedroom’ and ‘sex’ farces involving infidelity, 21st-century playwrights employ farce structures and tropes to explore weighty domestic dynamics. Many contemporary domestic farces focus on issues such as sibling rivalry, the challenges of parenthood, and the complexities of relationships in our changing times. Examples of both 20th- and 21st-century farces from France, Britain, the United States, and Ireland allow the reader to compare and contrast how the domestic farce has evolved over the years. Contemporary playwrights discussed include Yasmina Reza, Joe Penhall, Ken Ludwig, and Enda Walsh.
