Humor Cuts Deep in The Rep’s ‘Responders’
The tragedy at the heart of “Responders,” a dark comedy by Little Rock playwright Joseph Ford Scott, happens entirely off stage — and before the curtain ever opens.
This dark humor, often referred to as gallows humor, is a tool used by those in high-stress professions to cope with the grim realities they encounter daily. It can be a natural response to the trauma and stress that comes with dealing with critical incidents.
For first responders like police officers, gallows humor can be both a relief and a coping mechanism. They often make jokes about the very disturbing scenes they encounter, not out of disrespect but to find a way to process and deal with the trauma.
However, there is a fine line between using gallows humor as a healthy tool and allowing it to mask deeper emotional issues. As seen in the case of the officer who questioned his use of humor in the aftermath of a particularly grueling chase, self-reflection is crucial.
It is this delicate balance and the power of humor in the face of trauma that are explored in “Responders,” a play that not only showcases the depth of human resilience but also the blurred lines between coping and emotional avoidance.
