The Greatest Invention
| Category: | Wordplay & Puns |
|---|---|
| Category: | Historical / Cultural |
| Props: | Table or desk, various simple props to represent inventions (wheel, light bulb, etc.) |
| Notes: | This is a pun skit with a groan-worthy ending. The Inventor should be pompous and proud. The Assistant should be enthusiastic and supportive. Build up the suspense before the big reveal. |
([Inventor] stands at center with [Assistant] nearby.)
[Inventor:] (grandly) Ladies and gentlemen! Throughout history, humanity has created many great inventions!
[Assistant:] That's right! Like the wheel!
([Assistant] holds up or points to a wheel.)
[Inventor:] The wheel was good. But MY invention is better!
[Assistant:] And the light bulb!
([Assistant] holds up or points to a light bulb.)
[Inventor:] The light bulb was brilliant! But MY invention will shine even brighter!
[Assistant:] What about the telephone?
[Inventor:] The telephone connected people! But MY invention will bring people even CLOSER together!
[Assistant:] This must be amazing! What is your invention?
[Inventor:] (dramatically) After years of research, countless failures, and thousands of hours in my laboratory, I have finally perfected... THE GREATEST INVENTION OF ALL TIME!
[Assistant:] (excitedly) Tell us! What is it?
[Inventor:] It's simple! It's elegant! It's revolutionary!
[Assistant:] Yes? Yes?
[Inventor:] It will change how people live! How they dress! How they exist in this world!
[Assistant:] (bouncing with excitement) WHAT IS IT?!
[Inventor:] (pulls out or mimes showing a zipper) Behold... THE ZIPPER!
[Assistant:] (confused) A zipper? But... zippers already exist. They've been around for over a hundred years.
[Inventor:] (deflating) They have?
[Assistant:] Yes! People use them on jackets, pants, bags, everything!
[Inventor:] (sadly) So... I didn't invent the zipper?
[Assistant:] No. Sorry.
([Inventor] looks crushed, then suddenly brightens.)
[Inventor:] Wait! If I didn't invent it, then who did?
[Assistant:] (shrugs) I don't know. Some inventor a long time ago.
[Inventor:] (excitedly) Then I'll just ask around! I'll track down the inventor of the zipper and ask them how they did it!
[Assistant:] (skeptically) How are you going to find them?
[Inventor:] (proudly) Easy! I'll just look them up in the zipper directory!
[Assistant:] (groans) The "zip code"?
[Inventor:] (beaming) Exactly!
(Freeze. Blackout.)