Crossword Genius

Friends rolled joint in perverse kind of comedy (9)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

slapstick

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'kind of comedy' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)

'friends rolled joint' is the wordplay.
'friends' becomes 'pals' (pal is a kind of friend).
'rolled' shows that the letters should be reversed in order (letters roll back).
'joint' becomes 'stick' (synonyms).
'pals' back-to-front is 'slap'.
'slap'+'stick'='SLAPSTICK'

'in perverse' is the link.
This may not be right. Some or all of it may be part of another bit of the clue.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for slapstick that I've seen before include "Simple comic act" , "unsophisticated humour" , "Physical form of comedy" , "Knockabout comedy based on action rather than words" , "Unsubtle comedy" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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