"Who’s on First?" by Abbott and Costello, illustrated by John Martz.
Quirk Books, Philadelphia, 2013, 32 pages, Grades 3 and older.
Humor lightens people’s hearts and gives us joy. Slapstick humor usually ends in crème pies being thrown into someone’s face. This is the type of humor used on the old television show “The Three Stooges.” I grew up watching television shows like these and found them to be enjoyable.
Today, humor often has a biting edge or uses bawdy language to get a laugh. This type of humor is popular today but is also hurtful. Saturday Night Live sometimes uses this form of humor. Bud Abbott and Lou Costello were famous comedians in the 1930s and 1940s. They developed a hysterical skit in which Lou Costello asks Bud Abbott about the starting line-up of a baseball team.
Readers must know several comedy terms to understand the humor of the skit. A straight man is the person in the skit asking normal questions and acting reasonably in the scene. A bumbling character plays opposite the straight man and asks a series of questions that leads to a funny conversation about the topic at hand. This famous comedy skit by Abbot and Costello has now been adapted for a children’s book and is entitled, “Who’s on First?”
Costello approaches Abbott and casually asks about the starting line-up for the baseball team. Abbott tells Costello that baseball players have strange names and it may be difficult to keep them straight. Costello doesn’t think it is going to be a problem and asks Abbott for their names.
Abbott then tells Costello “Who’s on first;” “What’s on second;” and “I don’t know is on third.” Costello is immediately confused and responds by asking “That’s what I want to find out, what are the guys’ names?” Abbott again tells Costello “Who’s on first;” “What’s on second;” and “I Don’t Know is on third.”
Costello then asks “What is the guy’s name on first?” Abbott tells Costello that “What is on second.”
Costello becomes more confused and asks “What?” Abbott tells Costello that What is not on first, because Who is on first. Costello again asks “What” and is told that he is on second.
Pandemonium continues to break out as Costello keeps asking Abbott about who is playing the other positions and keeps getting told that Who is on first. By the time Costello gets to the players playing the outfield, readers will have a hard time not laughing.
"Who’s on First" was voted the 20th century’s funniest comedy sketch by Time Magazine in 1999. Costello’s bumbling frustration at being confused by the players names of Who, What and I Don’t Know is a work of comic genius. Bud Abbott is perfect for the straight man as he keeps telling Costello the right names of the players, which only befuddles the confused Costello all the more.
If you want to read the entire skit, go the library and check out this hysterical book, “Who’s on First” by Abbott and Costello.
This spoof is continually shown at the baseball’s Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y. The refreshing innocence is a tonic to the mean-spirited satires so often shown on television today. The entire episode is available on the internet.
Abbott and Costello adapted the skit many times and the adaptation for St. Louis is particularly funny. Costello’s New York accent adds to the delight as he keeps saying “St. Louiee.” If you want to share a joyful moment with the younger members of your family, check out this book and read it together. It is great fun. Enjoy!
