A simple concept that sets the scene for powerful lessons and play in terms of characterization, point of view, and building and sustaining energy.
The Basics
Players obtain an adjective from the audience and then construct a scene in which they play members of a family that embody that given quality.
Example
Exploring “enthusiastic,” Player A begins by getting into a car as the lights rise…
Player A: (glowing) “Alright, family! Who’s ready for today’s adventure!”
Player B: (rushing in from offstage) “Don’t leave without me, Dad! I wouldn’t miss this for the world.”
Player A: (smiling widely) “It’s ‘Dentist Tuesday!'”
Both: “Yay!!!”
Player C: (entering a little out of breath) “Oh, thank goodness. I thought I might have missed you…”
The Focus
Don’t be afraid of starting with your obvious take on the quality, but also don’t be afraid of evolving and morphing that immediate impression so that the scene can do the same. As this format invites players to explore an energy, be wary of naming or just stating the quality as this will do little to enrich the experience – “Why is everyone so enthusiastic…?”
Traps and Tips
1.) Variety is the spice of life. By definition, the scene invites the trap of becoming “one note” if every player simply explores the same facet of the given emotion or quality in the exact same manner. There can be a charming value in hitting the ask-for resolutely at 100% the top of the scene, but such an approach tends to burn brightly and quickly if players do not transition into more nuanced and varied treatments of the given energy. (If you immediately play the quality at its largest level, this also gives you nowhere to build towards.) This game invites a healthy dose of mirroring; however, this tactic tends to generate lackluster results when characters are unable to find their own unique doorways into the adjective. So, with this in mind…
2.) Leap to a strong objective. As is the case with most improv “games,” additional joy awaits when you manage to explore the prompt in your own justified way. It’s a given that everyone in the family will exude a related energy, but they need not demonstrate or embody this dynamic in an identical manner. Perhaps the father in the above example is an overtly enthusiastic parent: the teenage child, on the other hand, could exude a more pessimistic or “too cool for school” vibe that is, nonetheless, enthusiastic about dental hygiene but remains wary of giving their parent the satisfaction of showing this passion. Character C might play enthusiasm in a more extroverted way, but their excitement is focused on the fact that they’re about to enjoy some quality family time. Character D, the dentist, could glow under the appreciation of these loyal customers. These helpful contrasts in focus or point of view become even more dynamic when you…
3.) Pursue different combinations. When you adopt a soft Entrances and Exits approach to the game (see here), shuffling through various relationships, the scene also has a chance to more patiently develop. It certainly can work to have the whole team onstage for the duration of the action, all feeling the emotion at a fevered pitch, but such scenes – delightful as they may be – tend to exhaust their fuel rapidly and may understandably fizzle out after a minute or so. If you’re inclined towards a lengthier exploration, carefully pacing entrances, adjusting the character combinations, and mining the unique dynamics unlocked by different takes on the base adjective will usually provide you with helpful options (and reduces the likelihood of overtalking). Another tactic that can assist in this regard is to…
4.) Creatively frame your game. It’s standard comedy fare to seek contrast and juxtaposition. While a scene about an enthusiastic family attending their favorite theme park will undoubtedly provide fertile improv soil, shifting this frame to an event or occasion that most would view as inherently more fraught or unpleasant immediately offers a fun and unexpectedly twist. A depressed family at a wedding, a germophobic family at a picnic, or a neat freak family visiting a hoarder relative all offer rich templates worthy of investigation. A scene needn’t start with such an explicitly contradictory choice; in fact, it can prove delightful to allow this dynamic to organically emerge or serve as your climax. But in general, keeping an eye peeled for this type of opportunity will serve you well.
In Performance
Define family broadly and inclusively – the scene could certainly follow a group of close friends, for example. Supporting characters can also enter the fray: they can also take on some element of the adjective or serve more independently as foils with their own unique deals. If you opt for the second technique, it will probably feel a little odd if these secondary characters become too featured. If you’re struggling to find a button and have already maxed out the given attribute, a quick tilt into a radical new energy can do the trick.
Cheers, David Charles.
www.improvdr.com
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Photo Credit: James Berkley
© 2023 David Charles/ImprovDr
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