Sometimes breakdown operates on the level of an elaborate joke.

At first she had thought the whole thing to be an elaborate joke on Murdoch's part.

It's that this is all an elaborate joke to break us down again.

For all that he knew, this might turn out to be some kind of an elaborate practical joke.

For all I knew, someone within a few blocks was playing an elaborate practical joke on me.

It had to be some sort of elaborate joke on her part.

Could it be possible that this was all an elaborate practical joke?

The second half of the program amounted to an elaborate practical joke.

Apparently everyone but the producer and the crew now thought this was an elaborate joke.