the boys next door

The Boys Next Door is an interesting play. So far I have only read Act 1 but I am a bit skeptical of the play. It seems humor seems very awkward to me. I have never been a big fan of drama or skits. As I read the script I can see the play being acted out in my mind. So far, the play has been about several people who are mentally retarded and several people, mainly one man, who takes care of them. The patients, the ones who are diagnosed as mentally ill, do awkward things that normal people wouldn’t because of their condition. The patient’s acts are the main emphasis of the humor in the play. While the caretaker complains of his job and shares the struggles of working with these people to the audience. I don’t really enjoy the play for several reasons. I don’t believe its right to laugh at the misfortunes of others, especially when they have not chosen that life for themselves. Of course they are going to do and say ‘off’ things because they cannot understand how to act otherwise. But is it right to laugh at them for it? Yes, we do laugh at friends and family and even strangers when they do funny things on accident, but do we always like being laughed at? Some might, others might not. Second, I feel as though the attempts at humor thus far have been far from funny. If the play was a serious play, attempting to raise awareness of the conditions of the many who are suffering from mental illness I could understand it and enjoy it more. But I feel like the play is just this weird balance between bad attempts at humor and even worse attempts are seriousness. I have not given up hope. Act II may bring more clarity to the play. Right now, it is my least favorite piece we have read in the class for the above reasons.