RE: Shakespeare’s Comedies: Wit, Wordplay, And A Different Kind Of “Funny”

Hahaha, I totally identify with your colleague! It's the thought we've all had the first time we've seen a Shakespearean "comedy": "But where's the joke?" The explanation you give is excellent and super clear. It completely changes the way you see it. It's not about laughing out loud, but about the fact that the plot, even with its twists and turns, ends well, usually with a wedding.