Player One stands rigidly on stage, stroking an imagined object on his right wrist and says, “I love my shield.”
Player Two enters stage, stares agog at the imagined shield and says, “Wow-wie! That is one awesome shield.”
The question for you is: If you were told to enter the scene as the third player to establish a group game, what would you do?
There’s more than one way to build intensity over time.
Both scenes work in an improv context. No doubt. But I prefer the second iteration.
The second scene is more dynamic. Yes, both Bobs are altered by scene’s end and both scenes progress, but in the second scene Bob’s change is clearly delineated to establish a rhythm and to set expectations for heightening repetition with the audience.
It’s one of many improv lessons we can learn from The Clown. Let’s learn more.
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If you’re on my site, you are interested in learning. Bravo! It is way too easy to coast in a hobby (and unless you’re one of the few that actually improvises for a living it’s a hobby for you). But if we really care about this art of ours, and we care about the audience and the quality of shows we present, we must commit to continual improvement.
In the management consulting world, we talk about the path from Unconscious Incompetence to Conscious Incompetence to Conscious Competence to Unconscious Competence. Continue reading
Objective: To establish and heighten organic group games collaboratively as an ensemble.
Objective: To establish and heighten organic group games collaboratively as an ensemble.
“Improv As Improv Does Best” laughs come from: Continue reading
Objective: To build scenes by exploring and heightening committed perspectives.
An Opening is the first piece of a long-form performance presented to the audience. Every show has one. Not every show uses one.
Objective: To responsibly and recklessly endow scene partners (with characteristics, information, activities, etc.) that s/he must accept.
Objective: To play with strong emotional perspectives that evoke strong emotional reactions and drive strong emotional scenes.