Erica Marx

Blind Line

by for .  

Players read lines of dialogue that audience members have written on slips of paper and must incorporate them into the scene.

1

Goal

seamless justification

Instructions

Players leave the room while the Host collects lines of dialogue. These lines are written on small slips of paper, folded in half, and scattered about the stage. Players then enter the room and perform a scene based on an audience suggestion, occasionally picking up a slip of paper and saying the dialogue written on it.

Variation
2 player scene with dialogue lines written on pieces of paper that player pull out when they want a line.


Notes

Tips for getting lines of dialogue: Ask for lines from movies or song lyrics. Something your grandparents always say. A lie you've told. A pick-up line. Be creative

If you get too few lines of dialogue from the audience, you may run out long before the scene ends. Getting too many can be a waste of time, and audience members will be disappointed if there isn't room in the scene for their line to be said. Pay attention to how many lines your troupe uses in practice and adjust accordingly. About fifteen is a good base number.

Justify each line after it is said. Incorporate it into the scene as if it's exactly what your character wanted to say. Give every line meaning and relevance based on the situation.

Don't attempt to justify lines before they've been said. All too often, Players preface their lines with, “I remember my mom used to say...” By offsetting a quote like this and removing it from the context of the moment, you rob the line of its power to surprise and disrupt. A wacky quote from an unseen character is easily dismissed, which is contrary to the purpose of the game. Allow every line the opportunity to radically shake the scene.

Do not look at the slip of paper before reading it. You may be tempted justify or set up the line. Better to give a cold, spontaneous reading and improvise from there.

Don't pick up a slip until you need it. You should have enough papers around the stage to always have easy access to a line. There's no reason to awkwardly a slip and wait for the opportunity to use it. Just bend down when the time is right.

Space line readings apart unevenly. Don't use them too frequently or infrequently.

After reading a slip of paper, crumple it and lightly toss it away. Crumpling it helps distinguish a used slip from a neatly folded fresh line. Don't make a show of throwing the paper into the audience. It distracts from the scene. Casually flick it away from stage, and keep going.

Legal Notice: The first version of this site is taken from atomiccomicimprov.wikispaces.com

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