Dramatic Irony = Irony that is inherent in speeches or a situation of a drama and is understood by the audience but not grasped by the characters in the play.
I experienced reverse dramatic irony a couple weekends ago. I went to see a play that revolved around 20 some-things (who may or may not have been puppets) and their experiences dealing with grown up life. Paying rent, being broke, relationships, ect. This play was at one of the largest theatres in Los Angeles, where Broadway shows come when they have stood the test of tourists and are ready to tour! Here’s where the irony comes in, the only tickets I could afford to this show about broke, 20 year old puppets were in the way back. And I mean way back. I’m sure anyone looking at this situation could immediately have grasped the irony of this but for me that realization just came now (hence the reverse dramatic irony). It should be mentioned that I also took the metro to the box office to avoid the ticketmaster service charge, in order to save a few bucks for my friends and I.
We had a great time, the show was funny and we enjoyed it. But it got me thinking about how we value art and the ironic situations that it creates. The fact that I’m almost too broke to watch a show about people who are broke (and singing about it) is mildly humorous and slightly upsetting – in equal measure.
I guess in someways I feel better having sat in the cheap seats, because paying for the $90 seats to a show where one of the hit songs is titled “The internet is for porn” would just not feel right.
Starving the Arts 
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