Hey all, fun rehearsal tonight. Sixtine Gurrey joined us from the UF Social Media department to try out some UF scenarios that could turn into video ideas. Present at tonight's rehearsal were: Vi, Doug, Paul, Brandy, Taryn, Emily, Wayne, Shirley, Jennii, and Will.
We did some basic warm-ups including one-word story and hotspots. With one word story we should remember to think small while we're learning to do this. This means try to not complicate things and a great way to do that is to not use 'and' so much. For example: Johnny went to the store to get some medicine for his mom (that is a complete thought and one easy to follow, but when you add this to it) AND he was mad because he couldn't watch his favorite TV show about a drunk chipmunk. The 'and' did and typically can add something completely new so that following the thread becomes difficult. In 'One-Word Story' we're trying to tell a story, so own the road after we have mastered telling a basic story, we can add 'and' and 'because' all we want, but for now, let's just try to complete solid and cohesive sentences so we can tell a story. But, I must admit, I think a tv show about a drunk chipmunk has some potential.
Think of the warm-ups and exercises ways in which we can get in the mood to play. Just as athletes and other performers 'warm-up' before they perform, so do we. In other words, the warm-ups and exercises are just ways for us to prepare for the games we play. You don't have to try to be funny in warm-ups and exercises (or games, either) - just try to listen to your fellow players and remove yourself from your real life so you can be in the here and now with us.
I think hotspots is something for us to continually work on because it allows each of us to get some valuable stage time alone and it also is a great way to produce group listening. Often we'll have threads that poke in and out of hot spots and an overall feeling can be invoked - this is a good thing.
We also tried, for the first time, two headed expert. It was suggested by Deborah as she saw it performed recently during her stay in Prague. I would love to put this in the show as it is just a lot of fun to play and very challenging. I like how who leads the dialogue shifts back and forth and how listening truly becomes your best friend in this game.
Please, share your thoughts!
The English improv group in Prague had a special performance after the last night of a regularly scheduled play. They charged 100 crowns (about $5.00) in addition to the $10 for the play ticket.
ReplyDeleteThere were 7 guys and 1 girl (one of the actresses in the play)in the performance group. They broke up into 2 teams with one guy acting as host. They made it a competition between the teams and had the other 2 actresses from the play be the judges to award points. The list of games was written on a big piece of white cardboard, which I took a picture of, and each team choose the game the other would play. They sat in chairs on either side of the stage, had a few props, hats and wigs, strewn about.
Beofre it all started, the audience was encouraged to participate by expressing their appreciation for the performance, and we practiced making different audience noises.
The games were all short form, nothing like Goon River, and the most that played was the 3 team members and once 4. When they played a game that called for different emotions, they gathered a list of different emotions from the audience. The host wrote them down on a sheet of paper. For example, a scene with 2 people who worked at NASA progressed, but at regular intervals, the host called out the next emotion on the list, indicating the change by ringing a bicycle bell. The scene continued but with the new emotion being evokded. It was hilarious. Instead of ending with an “End scene” shout, an old-fashioned car horn was sounded.
Another game I loved was Two-headed expert. It was a scene from a TV interview show . They used audience suggestions, rhinoceros and origami. One person was the interviewer who led the story by asking information-loaded questions. The other two guys had to speak with one voice, so they put an arm around each other’s shoulders, watched each other and basically had to say the same thing at the same time. It was exaggerated and loud, and everyone was laughing so hard that tears were flowing.
‘Movie Critics’ was similar to ‘Bedtime Story.’ The audience suggested the film genre. Two TV movie critics told about scenes in a movie, and then said, ‘Let's roll the clip.’ Two actors then played out the described scene embellishing it with their own stuff. Each scene was a little snippet, then it went back to the critics. A variation of that was ‘Oscar Winning Performance.’ The actors would be in the middle of their scene, the host would call out a name, and that actor would then change whatever he was doing to be a dramatic, Oscar-worthy scene.
One of the best things about this theater is that the patrons are allowed to bring their dogs to the performance (Prague is so civilized). I met a lady who had a Chinese Crested/French bulldog mix.
One of the performers is from our area, so hopefully he will look us up when he is in FL during December. It would be great for him to visit us. I’ll try to get in touch with him.
Thanks for the post, Deborah. It's good to hear improv is alive and well all over the world! We absolutely loved the two-headed expert game and will try the others as well.
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