They say laughter is the elixir of life, and bringing a smile to someone’s face is a noble act. Funny skits are therefore highly regarded when it comes to entertainment.
What do you say?
The most wasted of all days is one without laughter. – E. E. Cummings
The most contagious thing known to mankind is laughter, and it’s the only contagious thing which strengthens our immune system. Laughter reduces the level of stress-causing hormones like cortisol and epinephrine, and it also increases antibody-producing cells. Sigmund Freud, an Austrian neurologist and famous psychiatrist, summarized in his ‘relief theory’ that laughter releases tension and ‘psychic energy’.
Humor connects people, lightens the mood, and gives much-needed relief. The effects of laughter on human health was so phenomenal that people started laughter clubs, where they met and laughed. There are many ways to make someone laugh; you can tell a joke, make a funny faces or gestures, incorporate funny quotes and sayings―whatever the means, the results are always the same.
One of the ways to make people laugh and entertain a group is by performing funny skits.
Witty Ideas
You can draw inspiration from the funny television show ‘Mind Your Language’, a series about a bunch of foreigners from different countries trying to learn the English language. To perform this skit you need a couple of actors to represent different countries you want to showcase, and an English teacher. The foreigners would talk in different accents and could ask funny questions.
F.R.I.E.N.D.S, would also be a good option. You need a few people who can act silly, do funny, weird things, and yet stick together because of their friendship.
You could also have very short skits, that would show a guy/girl crawling their way through a desert in search of water. He/she should look completely tired and exhausted. Finally, when water has been found, he/she dips a comb in it and uses it to set his/her hair, or use the water to wash a stain off the t-shirt, instead of drinking it. Here are some more examples of funny skits to enact.
Skits for Kids
Skit # 1: The Cap Seller and the Monkeys
Once upon a time, there lived a poor, but wise cap seller. Everyday after selling his caps, he took the route through the jungle back home for an afternoon nap. One day, he was too tired. He decided to take a nap under a tree in the forest itself. Leaving his basket of caps aside, he fell off to sleep, without noticing the monkeys on the tree. As he woke up, he realized that his caps weren’t where he left them. He looked around and finally spotted the monkeys on the tree. The monkeys were wearing his caps.
The cap seller thought of a smart way to get his caps back. He took off his cap and dusted it. All the monkeys imitated him. He then tossed the cap in the air and caught it midway. The monkeys did the same. He finally took off his cap, and threw it on the ground in frustration. The monkeys fell for his trick, and threw their caps down as well. The wise cap seller picked up all his caps and fled.
Infocard: After 20 years, the cap seller’s grandson, took up the same profession. He took the same jungle route back home every afternoon. One fine day, he wasn’t feeling too well, and happened to take a nap under the same tree, that his grandfather had chosen 20 years ago. When he woke up, he was faced with the same situation his grandfather had to face two decades ago. Since he was aware of that incident, he decided to trick the monkeys into doing the same thing. He took off his hat and waved it to them. The monkeys took off their caps and waved them back at him. He then wore the hat back. The monkey put on their hats as well. He finally took off his hat and threw it on the ground, just as his grandfather had. On doing this, one monkey got off the tree and came to the ground.
He then slapped the cap seller hard, snatched the cap he had flung to the ground, climbed back onto the tree and shouted, “You’re not the only one who had a grandfather!”
Skit # 2: The Dog, the Monkey, and the Lion
Once upon a time, there lived an orphan dog. He lived alone fending for himself. One day, he ventured into the jungle in search of food. After a lot of looking, he finally found a few bones near a tree. Excited about his discovery, he quickly scurried towards the bones. Just as he was about to pop one into his mouth, he heard a few footsteps behind him. He hid behind the tree and peeped to check who it was.
To his dismay, he saw a lion advancing towards the tree. The dog thought to himself, “I am too small to fight this lion, and there’s little chance he wouldn’t spot me in the next 5 minutes”. He kept pondering about how to get out of this crisis. After 2 minutes, he came up with an ingenious plan. Taking one bone in his mouth, he yelled with all his might, “Wow, this lion was delicious! If only I got one more lion to eat, it would satisfy my hunger for the night.”
On hearing this, the lion traced back his steps. Surprised with what the dog had said, the lion thought to himself, “This dog seems pretty brave. He hunted down a lion? Let me get out of here before he makes me his next meal.” As the lion left, the dog breathed a sigh of relief. He sat there peacefully chewing his bone. A monkey sitting on that tree was a spectator to this little event. He knew what exactly the dog had done. The monkey thought to himself, “If I inform the lion of how this dog fooled him, we’d become friends. Becoming friends with the lion will ensure my safety in this jungle as well.” The monkey jumped off the tree and sped away to meet the lion.
The dog spotted the monkey running away, and speculated the monkey’s plan. He sat there patiently waiting to watch what was about to happen. He then saw the lion heading towards him once again, with the monkey on his back. The lion looked furious, and the look on his face was enough to let the dog know what had happened. The lion was just 5 steps away, when he saw the dog chewing the same bone.
As he took another step forward, the dog exclaimed, “This silly monkey, it’s been almost an hour since I sent him to get that lion. How difficult is it to convince one lion? Stupid fellow!”
Skits for Adults
Skit # 3: Jim and Jane
There lived a couple who had been married for 30 years. The husband Jim and wife Jane lived in a small town in New York. Jim was fun-loving, witty, and over confident, while Jane was understanding, loving, and patient. Now, Jim suspected that Jane was growing deaf. To avoid arguments assuming that she wouldn’t accept the fact, Jim decided to consult a doctor before approaching Jane. He wanted proof before letting her know that she had a hearing problem.
Jim: Good morning, doctor. I am Jim Colesman
Doctor: Good Morning Mr. Colesman, please have a seat.
Jim: I dropped by with a problem. I suspect my wife cannot hear well anymore. I wanted to know how could I be sure of her problem.
Doctor: Well Mr. Colesman, it is very simple. Try this method. Ask her a question, any question, from a distance of about 50 feet. If she doesn’t respond, move closer. Ask her the same question standing at a distance of 40 feet, then 30, 20, and so on, until she answers your question. That is how you will understand if she really has a hearing problem or not.
Jim: Oh! That would indeed solve my problem. Thank you, doctor. I will take your leave now.
Doctor: All the best Mr. Colesman. Have a nice day.
Jim rushed to work after the meet with the doctor. On returning home in the evening, Jane was preparing dinner. He remembered what the doctor had suggested and thought of executing the plan at that very moment. He moved 50 feet away and asked:
Jim: “Honey, what’s for dinner?”
Jane: (No response)
Jim: (partly convinced, he asks again at a distance of 40 feet) “Darling, what’s for dinner?”
Jane: (No response)
Jim: (at a distance of 30 feet) “Honey, what’s for dinner?”
Jane: (No response)
Jim: (at a distance of 20 feet) “Honey, what’s for dinner?”
Jane: (No response)
Jim: (at a distance of 10 feet) “Darling, what’s for dinner?”
Jane: (No response)
Jim: (giving it his last try, he stands right behind her and asks) “What are you preparing for dinner, Jane?”
Jane: Jim, for the fifth time I am telling you, PRAWNS.
Skit # 4: The Ants and the Grasshopper
We’ve all heard the famous ant and the grasshopper story, the one in which the grasshopper is singing and dancing all summer wasting his time, while the ants are busy collecting food to secure themselves for winter. Winter arrives―the ants have food, the grasshopper has none. He finally learns his lesson of working hard for a living.
Now, let’s enact a funny modern version of the same story―the ants work hard gathering food for winter, while the grasshopper laughs at them, and enjoys his summer to the fullest. The ants work extremely hard and build a house (an ant hill) to protect them during the harsh winter months. As winter arrives, the shivering and starved grasshopper calls for a press conference, complaining he has no food to eat. He starts picking on the ants, pointing out how they can’t share their food or shelter with a deprived soul. He starts putting forth questions such as, “why should the ants enjoy good food and shelter, when he is left to suffer in the cold”.
All the news channels offer him support, broadcasting his misery. They make this broadcast all the more melodramatic, by airing the comfort of the ants. People are in shock and are sympathizing with the grasshopper now. The ants are portrayed as cruel and insensitive-selfish creatures, as they have no sympathy for the shivering grasshopper. People begin to criticize the government for not upholding the fundamental rights of the grasshopper. Online petitions seeking support for the grasshopper flood the internet. People start collection boxes to fund this grasshopper, and many other such shivering and starving grasshoppers.
Finally, the homes of the ants are confiscated and handed over to the grasshopper in a pompous ceremony.
Skit # 5: Engineer and a Manager
A woman flying in a hot air balloon found herself lost in the middle of nowhere. She reduces height and spots a man below.
Woman: Excuse me, young man.
Man: Yes lady?
Woman: Do you have any idea where I am? I guess I’m lost.
Man: Not really, you are in a hot air balloon, hovering at a height of about 30 feet, above this field.
Woman: Can you tell me the time? I promised to meet my friends at 4 p.m. today.
Man: I am sorry to say, you’ve missed them. It is 4.45 p.m. now.
Woman: Are you an engineer?
Man: Oh yes! How did you guess that though?
Woman: Well, all the information you have given me is technically right, but is of absolutely no use to me. Actually, it’s of no use to anyone.
Man: And you young lady must be into management?
Woman: That is absolutely right! But, how did you know?
Man: Well, you have no idea where you are, or where you are heading, and you expect me to help you. You make promises, but fail to keep them. You are just where you were before we met, but now I am to blame for it.
Skit # 6: The Chinese Way of Speaking
While enacting this skit, make sure the names of the characters are spelled out in order to let the audience understand the jokes.
Lee Sum Van: “Hello, may I speak to Annie Van?”
Mr. Sorie: “Yes sir, you may speak to me.”
Lee Sum Van: “No, I want to speak to Annie Van.”
Mr. Sorie: “May I know who is this, please?”
Lee Sum Van: “I’m Sum Van. I need to talk to Annie Van. It’s urgent.”
Mr. Sorie: “Yes, I know you are someone and you want to talk to anyone! Tell me, what is so urgent?
Lee Sum Van: “Look, just tell my younger sister Annie Van, that our brother Noe Van met with an accident. Noe Van has been injured and is in the hospital. Right now, Van is on the way to the hospital.”
Mr. Sorie: “Well, if no one has been injured, and no one has been sent to the hospital from the accident, then, it isn’t an urgent matter. You may think this is funny sir, but I seriously have no time for this.”
Lee Sum Van: “You are very rude. Who are you?”
Mr. Sorie: “I’m Sorie.”
Lee Sum Van: “Yes, you should be sorry. What’s your name!”
Mr. Sorie: “I’m Sorie!”
Lee Sum Van: “What is the matter with you? I know you are sorry, but would you mind giving me your name now?”
Mr. Sorie: “Look here boy, I have repeated myself too many times now. I’m Sorie! I’m Sorie! I’m Sorie! You haven’t given me your name either!”
Lee Sum Van: “I told you before, I’m Sum Van! Sum Van! Now, your job is at stake. I’m warning you, my grandfather is Sum Buddy and he is extremely rich. My uncle has a great political hold. He is Noe Buddy.”
Mr. Sorie (sarcastically): “Oh my, I am shivering now! I’m so scared of nobody. And your grandfather is somebody? What are you saying? How can someone be as great as somebody? (hahaha) Well, everybody thinks he is somebody.”
Lee Sum Van: “No, Avery Buddy doesn’t even know Sum Buddy. As my aunt eloped and married Avery Buddy. But anyway, Avery Buddy doesn’t even work there.”
Mr. Sorie: “I don’t care which one of your aunts does what, and I also know that not everybody works here. Geez! Is there anybody other than “anyone” that you would like to talk to?”
Lee Sum Van: “Yes, Wheech Van. Weech Van is my elder sister!”
Mr. Sorie: “Oh good heavens! How in God’s name would I know which one is your elder sister now!”
Make sure your skit is funny, yet sensible. Do not make it confusing. Keep your audience in mind before deciding on the skit. All the best!