Instructor: Armando Diaz
Date Taken: August 2009
Inspired by the likes of 2-Square and TJ & Dave, I really wanted to try out 2-person improv. : Not only is it amazingly fun and challenging to do, it also helps you become a stronger improviser for any form.
The following notes are from my first class at The Magnet Theater. Learn more about the Magnet training program: here.
The Dynamic Duo class is focused on teaching how to do a 2-person improv show. You sign up with a partner and work with them for 4 classes, and then do a 2-person show along with your fellow classmates.
Class #1
- Two options for duo shows::
- (1) Long, slower paced, such as 1 scene with 2 characters:
- (2) Faster paced, multiple scenes and multiple characters:
- Starting slow helps you work on the fundamentals:
- A 2 person scene: has to be interesting.: Try to find that first interesting thing
- Be vulnerable & sensitive to everything your partner does:
- Be aware of the subtext of your character’s choices:
- Beginnings are 90% of the success of a scene:
- Object work: make us see where you are:
- We tend to favor dialog, don’t forget physicalization:
- Your environment can inform your scene, can give you something to go back to:
- You can have multiple characters in 1 environment:
- Use different parts of the stage to define different parts of a location:
- Having characters in a certain part of the stage makes it easier to go back to other characters:
- For second beats, assume something has happened in between:
- Your environment really helps establish where you are and is very helpful when you want to connect scenes:
Class #2:
- Each scene you want to find something strong:
- Always remember status:
- The game deals with pattern of behavior (point of view):
- Don’t talk about a concept, explore it:
- The most interesting part of any scene is the characters’ reactions to things in the scene:
- Make a choice of who you are:
- At the top of scenes, it’s even more important to make declarations:
- Avoid telling the story of your character, show it:
- There’s a tendency to want to describe or explain your game, but its more rewarding if you just do it:
- The details can really tell you about yourself, scene, or partner:
- Personal details make your characters come to life:
- Specific details are less risky than generic details:
- Your object work should be good enough to define your location without you having to verbalize it:
- Your first beats of scenes should be separate and distinct. it : gives you more variety when you bring them together:
- Opening options: monologue, documentary, ms jackson (hot spot based on suggestion), invocation
Class #3
- Start with a want or destination:
- Your first scene should give you lots of possibilities:
- Start with relationship between 2 people:
Class #4
- Don’t worry about where your scene is going or how funny it is, worry about knowing your character and your relationship:
- The objects in your scene can be extensions or at least tell us more about your character:
- Monoscenes can still have beats that just happen in real time:
- Edit on a laugh. you can always come back.:
- Make your characters more distinctive so you can easily recognize them:
- When you leave a scene and come back, give yourself the gift of time lapse and be in the middle of something:
