light comedyn.
/ˌlʌɪt ˈkɒmᵻdi/, U.S. /ˌlaɪt ˈkɑmədi/ 1. A genre of comedy which is designed to be entertaining rather than thought-provoking. Also as a count noun: a production of this kind.
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1698 E. Settle Def. Dramatick Poetry 91 The Auditor must have a much more serious Face than he wears at a Light Comedy.
1827 L. T. Rede Road to Stage 60 In light comedy it is continually requisite to execute music.
1913 Munsey's Mag. Feb. 735/2 It is not easy to draw a strict line of demarcation between light comedies of this sort and comedies of a more elevated type.
2005 Western Morning News (Plymouth) (Nexis) 19 July 6 It was in pantomime that he found his niche, an outlet for both his talent for light comedy and comic dance routines.
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1885 J. K. Jerome On Stage 33 I remember the first time our light comedy attempted to sit down on one of these chairs.
Compounds
General use as a modifier.
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1778 J. Brett tr. B. J. Feijóo y Montenegro Three Ess. or Disc. 152 Is it necessary to introduce light comedy airs into the representation of the most afflicting mysteries.
1897 National Police Gaz. (U.S.) 26 May 6/4 Miss Blanche is, perhaps, the cleverest little lady on the burlesque and light comedy stage.
1901 Sketch 18 Sept. 370/1 A three-act farcical comedy, called ‘Imprudence’, in which Mr. Leonard Boyne..played a rollicking light-comedy part.
1982 M. Palin Diary 28 Nov. in Halfway to Hollywood (2009) 225 I shouldn't say this to you, but you are now established as a very good light comedy actor!
2002 NFT Programme Booklet Nov. 31/1 Carmichael plays John Worthing and his light-comedy style seems tailor-made for this farce of misunderstandings and mistaken identity.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2021).
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n.1698