Why does kaufman decide to have his characters act in a calm way even in the face of a crisis? what purpose does this serve? is there a connection between this characterization and the plot?

In his play The Still Alarm, Kaufman uses understatement liberally. He mocks the excessively stiff and proper mannerisms of British society by having the characters in the play converse in a calm manner even as the hotel that they are in has caught fire:

BELLBOY: The hotel is on fire.

ED: This hotel?

BELLBOY: Yes, sir.

BOB: Well—is it bad?

BELLBOY: It looks pretty bad, sir.

ED: You mean it's going to burn down?

BELLBOY: We think so—yes, sir.

BOB (A low whistle of surprise): Well! We'd better leave.

BELLBOY: Yes, sir.

BOB: Going to burn down, huh?

BELLBOY: Yes, sir. If you'll step to the window you'll see. (Bob goes to R. window.)

BOB: Yes, that is pretty bad. H'm. (To Ed). I say, you really ought to see this—  

Kaufman’s use of understatement demonstrates that British society can be standoffish, unmoved, and impassive, irrespective of the situation. For example, by having the characters in the play converse in a calm manner, even as they risk being trapped in the fire, Kaufman mocks British society’s excessively stiff and proper mannerisms. Bob’s calm reaction is amusing, as he is unaffected by the fire and is in no hurry to get outside the burning building safely and unscathed, which is not what anyone would consider a normal reaction to such a situation.

ich statement best shows a problem in travels with charley?

one sharp difficulty presented itself. in the intervening twenty-five years my name had become reasonably well known.

this being so, my trip demanded that i leave my name and my identity at home.

i had to go alone and i had to be self-contained, a kind of casual turtle carrying his house on his back.

with all this in mind i wrote to the head office of a great corporation which manufactures trucks.

hello!

"hidesato showed not the least sign of fear. he tried to calm the dragon king: don't be afraid. i shall surely kill the centipede."

hope this .