The Straight Man
The performer in a scene who reacts to absurdity with grounded, rational responses rather than contributing additional absurdity. The straight man provides the audience with a point of identification and makes the unusual behavior of the other character funnier through contrast. Playing straight requires discipline and the willingness to let a partner get the laughs.
Further Reading
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The Upright Citizens Brigade Comedy Improvisation Manual
Matt Besser; Ian Roberts; Matt Walsh
Whose Improv Is It Anyway?
Beyond Second City
Amy E. Seham
Comedy and Distinction
The Cultural Currency of a 'Good' Sense of Humour
Sam Friedman
Truth in Comedy
The Manual of Improvisation
Charna Halpern; Del Close; Kim Howard Johnson
How to Be the Greatest Improviser on Earth
Will Hines
Something from Nothing
The Technique of Improvisation
Richard Goteri
How to Reference This Page
The Improv Archive. (2026). The Straight Man. Retrieved March 17, 2026, from https://improvarchive.org/learn-improv/concepts/the-straight-man
The Improv Archive. "The Straight Man." The Improv Archive, 2026. https://improvarchive.org/learn-improv/concepts/the-straight-man.
The Improv Archive. "The Straight Man." The Improv Archive, 2026, https://improvarchive.org/learn-improv/concepts/the-straight-man. Accessed March 17, 2026.
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