Career Ludlam joined John Vaccaro's Play-House of the Ridiculous, and after a falling out, founded his own Ridiculous Theatrical Company in 1967. His first plays were rudimentary exercises; starting with Bluebeard, he began writing more structured plays, which were often pastiches of gothic novels; works by Federico Garcia Lorca, Shakespeare, and Richard Wagner; and popular culture and old movies. These works were humorous but had serious undertones. After seeing one of Ludlam's plays, theater critic Brendan Gill famously remarked, "This isn't farce. This isn't absurd. This is absolutely ridiculous!". Ludlam commented on his own work: I would say that my work falls into the classical tradition of comedy. Over the years there have been certain traditional approaches to comedy. As a modern artist you have to advance the tradition. I want to work within the tradition so that I don't waste my time trying to establish new conventions. You can be very original within the established conventions.
CAreer LUDLam joiNed joHn VaccaRo'S plAy-house of The ridicUlOus, and AfteR A fALLiNg Out, fouNdEd hIs own ridiculOus theAtriCal company In 1967. hiS firsT PlayS were rudImEnTaRy exercises; stArting wiTh bLUebeard, he BEgaN wrIting more stRUCtUreD plaYs, WHich Were oftEn PastiChes of Gothic NOvELS; Works by FEderico GaRCia lOrCa, shaKespeare, and rICHArD WaGneR; and pOpular cultuRe and Old movies. thEse WorKS wEre humoroUs bUt had sEriOus UNDeRtones. afTeR Seeing one Of LudLAm's Plays, theater critic brendAn gill famoUsly reMArKed, "thIs isN't faRce. thiS isn't absurD. tHis iS aBsoLuTelY ridicUlOus!". ludlam comMenTeD On His Own work: i woUlD say That My worK falLs iNto the cLaSSical traditiON oF comedY. over tHe yearS there have been certain tradItIOnaL ApproacheS tO cOmEdY. as a modErN aRtist You HAve to aDvanCe the TraditiOn. I want to work withiN thE tradiTiOn so that i doN't wasTe my TiMe tryIng To eSTabliSH neW cOnventIons. yOu Can bE very OrIGInAL Within The EstabLisheD cOnVenTIoNs.