Final answer:
The comic technique that gives the audience more knowledge than the characters on stage is called dramatic irony. It involves the audience knowing something key to the plot that the characters are unaware of, creating humor or suspense.
Step-by-step explanation:
The comic technique that gives the audience more knowledge than some of the characters on stage is known as dramatic irony.
Dramatic irony occurs when the audience knows something that one or more characters do not. This technique creates a comic or suspenseful effect by allowing the audience to anticipate the character's reactions when they discover the truth. It also has the potential to produce sympathy for the characters who are ignorant of what the audience knows. A classic example of dramatic irony is found in Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet," where the audience is aware of Juliet's feigned death, but Romeo is not, leading to tragic consequences.
Dramatic irony relies on the effective use of dialogue, foreshadowing, and the establishment of given circumstances which set the stage for comedic or tragic events to unfold. The playwright's skill in weaving these elements seamlessly into the script predicts how well the audience will respond to the unfolding story. Dramatic irony engages the audience actively as they watch how the dramatic tension resolves.