Perhaps more of a scenic structure than a short-form game per se, Circular Scene provides a pleasing way of shaping the narrative arc.
The Basics
I tend to teach this format through a Spolin lens, with players having a brief planning session to come up with a common who, what, and where. The hope is that once they understand the logistics involved, they can recognize and apply the technique to other improv scenes when the potential organically emerges. Players prepare by quickly determining the basic components of a scene that will eventually loop back around on itself so that the story essentially ends where it began. This may take the form of one large loop (think in terms of a conclusion that neatly replicates the opening beats), or it can feel more like a tightly wound coil (think in terms of a slinky with many smaller circles that is finally connected at both ends). In either case, the scene is improvised and culminates when the audience has a sense that the pattern is about to repeat itself (again).
Examples
A college student who has sworn off dating reluctantly prepares themselves for one last attempt. We see them go out on a blind date, which quickly reveals itself to be yet another disaster. As the thwarted student leaves, they recommit to never date again, only to check a notification from a dating app and then agree to go out with a new contender the next night...
OR
A goldfish – a species renowned for its short memory span – awakes in a vast ocean, unsure who they are or their purpose in life. They approach various marine life, asking if they can help solve the riddle of their identity, but no one can seem to help, until the fish finally approaches a friendly barracuda who, kindly, answers their question. The goldfish happily swims away, content in their newfound knowledge, only to have their memory suddenly reset seconds later. The fish, once again, finds itself swimming in an unfamiliar ocean and is filled with the insatiable need to know who they are...
The Focus
Lean into the structure, as the satisfaction of the scene largely derives from the audience’s sense of déjà-vu when the scene turns back in on itself.
Traps and Tips
1.) Remain flexible. I always give this advice when working with the Spolin “preplanning” model but avoid considering the “how” of the scene when you’re brainstorming. When you’re exploring the dynamic for the first time, it’s helpful to have a general sense that your scenario has an innate potential for circularity but allow the specifics to emerge as you play, or the scene can start to feel “approximated.”
2.) Remain diligent. As is the case with almost every improv scene, the most interesting dynamic often bubbles up on the way to the thing that you thought the scene was going to be about. If you’re using a brief template, also remember that the audience isn’t privy to your planning session, so you won’t want to leap over the foundational elements of the story. Give every moment its due.
3.) Remain united. Be wary of working at cross purposes with your teammates when it comes to the central dynamic. If one improviser is exploring the goldfish short memory angle, and another pursues the circuitous nature of the seasons, and yet another wants to examine the oceanic food chain, it’s likely that none of these dynamics will land for the audience in a pleasing manner. Build on the choice of another and amplify their game rather than clinging doggedly and unhelpfully to your own.
4.) Repeat. These scenes benefit from a clear overlap, so look to repeat at least a few of the initial steps in order to sell the ending. In this way, our dating scene might benefit from continuing on to the beginning of the next night so that we see that the doomed student is about to suffer the exact same fate all over again. If you’re playing with the “slinky” variation, this can go even further, with the student going on a second, and third date that all end up the same (therefore, deploying the comedy of threes as well…)
In Performance
If you’re inclined towards a more linear style of story construction, this simple variation offers a nice way to mix things up.
Cheers, David Charles.
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Photo Credit: Leesa Brown
© 2023 David Charles/ImprovDr
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