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'Air! Air!' croaked Kralefsky, 'Give me air!' 'Interesting,' said Colonel Ribbindane. 'Saw a pygmy like that once in the Congo... been trapped in an elephant's stomach. The elephant is the largest African quadruped..' 'Do get him out,' said Mother agitatedly. 'Get some brandy.' 'Fan him! Blow on him!' shrilled Margo, and burst into tears. 'He's dying, he's dying, and he never finished his trick.'

Gerald Durrell#13

HumorDramaPerformance

About this quote

What does it mean?
The group panics over a performer's mock distress, ignoring the trick for immediate concern.
In plain terms
Everyone worries the actor is dying instead of realizing he is performing.
What can you take from it?
Drama can make people forget context.

Where it applies

  • comedy scene
  • public reaction
  • performance mishap

Putting it to work

  • writing tension
  • directing comedy

Questions to consider

  • When does drama become real?
  • How do we react to crises?

Another view

It relies on situational irony that might feel contrived.

More from Gerald Durrell

  1. 'And now, ladies and gentlemen, I present the famous escape artists, Krafty Kralefsky and his partner, Slithery Stephanides.' 'Dear God,' said Larry, 'who thou…

    Permalink to quote #12
  2. The Mockery Bird regarded him with a roguish eye, head on one side, and took a few slow steps into the clearing. With its head on one side and its foot tentati…

    Permalink to quote #14
  3. You are not necessarily depriving him of his liberty, for territory is a form of natural cage and the word 'liberty' does not have the same connotation for an …

    Permalink to quote #11

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