Here’s an opportunity to break out of realism which can tend to be the improv assumption (at least in most commercial western companies).
The Basics
Teams are challenged to craft a scene that is set in an Unearthly World, that is, a location that extends beyond the boundaries of commonplace existence. I typically play this “Spolin-style” with teams taking a moment to brainstorm a ripe starting point of their own, but it could also certainly work with a traditional audience ask-for.
Example
Players elect to explore a world in which anthropomorphized animals roam the land.
Player A: (assuming the physicality of a lemur and calling to their children) “Dinner’s ready!”
A scramble of similar creatures rushes to the bounty set out on the floor.
Player B: (grasping at the meal with great relish) “Over-ripe cantaloupes! My favorite.”
Player A: (scolding but lovingly) “Now, what have I told you about your table manners…?”
The Focus
Similar to the related Humanless Scene, this structure encourages players to think and act outside the (realism) box.
Traps and Tips
1.) Think physicality. These scenes offer an opportunity to dispense with talking head tendencies and throw yourself into the action in new and unexpected ways. To that end, start big and brave. In the above example, the premise could be shaped so that the characters were still essentially human in their movements, but such a choice would sap the innate energy and creativity of the experiment.
2.) Think style. Whether you’re pursuing a “parallel universe” approach where the world is largely as we know it but with a seismic shift due to an important evolutionary or behavioral anomaly, or you’ve envisioned a completely different construct altogether, consider style and how movement and vocal norms can elevate and define the action in unique and interesting ways. Some good old-fashioned paralleling or mirroring (other’s choices and qualities) will go a long way in this regard.
3.) Think mapping. And while these scenes aren’t necessarily mapping games, this provides another useful approach as human bodies will invariably take on the unearthly components of your creations. Some thoughtful mapping – using the tropes of one scenario as an overlay to shape the action of another – can unlock satiric or parodic hues, which will elevate the game beyond pure fantasy.
4.) Think contrast. I’ve also had success using this frame with one human character in the mix in an “Alice through the looking glass” kind of dynamic. Here, the unearthliness of the experience can benefit from the presence of a foil who engages with the strangeness as a fish out of water, whether they’ve been pulled into a fantasy land, or a wardrobe, or a portal into another dimension. Scenes needn’t take on this approach (as it can become a little stale if overused); however, this adjustment can help if players are struggling to tap into the freedom of the construct.
In performance
While I’m less likely to issue this as a challenge per se in an evening of scenes, rehearsing the potentials of the dynamic can unlock an awareness and ability to pursue more fantastical locations and premises when the inspiration hits, which is in and of itself a great mindset to nurture and hone.
Cheers, David Charles.
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Photo Credit: Olivia Skvarenina
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