When funny isn't funny

I’ve been to watch quite a bit of theatre recently and coincidentally, have come across quite a few online articles on a similar theme about 'humour.'
A ‘funny’ script does not make or guarantee a ‘funny’ play. In fact, I’ve never been entirely convinced by the concept of what makes a ‘funny script.’
And an audience will decide what qualifies as a ‘funny play’ anyhow.
It’s a combination of so much: writing, casting, direction, luck, science and alchemy. And so much more.

What humour isn’t about is just the gag line. That low hanging fruit which people search for in a script and measure it by. And then cling to for dear life.
But such are only ever opportunities, not givens.
A script is a statement of intent from the writer to the creatives. A world of opportunities.
Much of humour is not found in the words, but the space surrounding it. The space we pass by and ignore at our peril. And such conceal even greater opportunities, even more than the words themselves.

An audience isn’t a bad audience just because they don’t laugh where you expect them to. In fact, I’ve always said that there’s no such thing as a bad audience. Just an audience who were not presented with the opportunities the script contained.
We sometimes race to get a play on its feet before we’ve found its feet. I think we find them by devoting enough time around a table and exploring the landscape before we do anything else.

Getting humour right is hard work.
Getting it wrong is simple.
Maybe one solution might be to remember to study the map before you put your boots on.