double act
Two-person performance team
A double act is a comedy or entertainment partnership of two performers who work together as a unit, often with contrasting personas—one playing the straight man to the other's comic: Laurel and Hardy were the most famous double act in film history.
The term extends to any close working pair: The CEO and CFO operated as a double act.
Contrasting comedic film partners
- Abbott and CostelloLegendary comedy partnership
- Penn and TellerComedy magic pair
- Smothers BrothersSibling musical comedy team
Exaggerated physical humor
- banterPlayful, teasing exchange
- punchlineHumor's final delivery
- straight manComedy duo's serious half
- stoogeEasily manipulated pawn
gag · sketch · wit · timing · shtick · improv · farce · parody
Raised performance platform
- routineRegular sequence of actions
- audienceGathered viewers collectively
- applauseCollective hand-clapping approval
- curtainFabric hung for privacy
rehearsal · spotlight · theater · vaudeville · cabaret · variety · revue · touring
Laurel and Hardy
Contrasting comedic film partners
- Abbott and CostelloLegendary comedy partnership
- Penn and TellerComedy magic pair
- Smothers BrothersSibling musical comedy team
slapstick
Exaggerated physical humor
- banterPlayful, teasing exchange
- punchlineHumor's final delivery
- straight manComedy duo's serious half
stooge · gag · sketch · wit · timing · shtick · improv · farce · parody · jest
stage
Raised performance platform
- routineRegular sequence of actions
- audienceGathered viewers collectively
- applauseCollective hand-clapping approval
curtain · rehearsal · spotlight · theater · vaudeville · cabaret · variety · revue · touring · billing
collaborators
People who work jointly
- chemistryStudy of substances' interactions
- rapportHarmonious mutual connection
- dynamicActive and changing
pairing · teamwork · foil · complement · interplay · synchrony · billing dispute · breakup · reunion · solo career
- comedy termsjokes, puns, wit, sarcasm, irony
- duosSonny and Cher, The Everly Brothers, Lennon and McCartney, The Righteous Brothers, Righteous Brothers
- music groupsband, choir, orchestra, chorus, duo
- variety actsacrobat, juggling, aerialist, magic, clown
- comedy typesclown, satire, parody, farce, slapstick
- comedy bitsbit, skit, sketch, gag, shtick
double actsolo act
solo artist · one-man show · one-woman show · ensemble · troupe
act, double, doubled, doubling, doubles, redouble, doublet, redoubled, redoubling