ABSTRACT
This chapter begins by defining the intricacies of cultural farce in the 21st century. Cultural farces are generally adaptations of, or inspired by: literature, film, theatre or cultural icons. These farces are more than direct adaptations and often reimagine their source material. Cultural farces may also filter historical events through a contemporary lens, playing off our own familiarity with a known entity. Contemporary plays examined in this chapter include Patrick Barlow’s The 39 Steps , the work of Peepolykus, Ken Ludwig’s Baskerville, Mel Brooks’ The Producers, Graham Linehan’s The Ladykillers , Sandy Rustin’s Clue , Phil Porter’s Vice Versa , and Richard Bean’s One Man, Two Guvnors .
