Unit
3 - Character
Module
3: Developing Character
Lesson
3 - Improvisation
Introduction:
The purpose of this lesson is to give students the opportunity
to explore their characters through improvisation.
Resource:
(pdf)
Improvisation Scenarios
Activities:
| Note:
You should have a pretty well developed character by this
point. The monologue is written and the background and personality
of the character has been established. The purpose of this
lesson is to encourage you to stay in character and to explore
the parameters. You need to have some fun with the
character and try new things. Surprise yourself! |
Activity
1 -
Gesture Pass
Stand
in a circle, one begins by making a gesture with a sound to
the person on the right. That person must repeat the same gesture
and sound back to the first person. Then they turn to their
right and pass a new gesture and sound, which is repeated back.
And so on around the circle. The idea is to become loose and
spontaneous, follow impulses and do not judge responses.
Activity
2 - Walk About
Begin with a group stretching session. Use yoga to keep
flexible and loose. Stretching also helps focus the mind and
connect the body to the mind. Once loosened up, you are to begin
moving about the room in a random pattern. Play some soft music
to set a quiet, focused mood. You are to pay attention to movement,
tension and flow in response to certain words called out. For
example: smooth and loose; smooth and tight; sharp and quick;
sharp and slow; swirl and high; swirl and low; etc. Use a variety
of combination of words. Ask students to also focus on certain
body parts for the movement to originate - such as the hand,
the hips, the nose, etc.
Common
Movement Verbs:
* THRUSTING * FLOATING * PUSHING * SLASHING
* GLIDING * WRINGING * DABBING * FLICKING
|
Continue
the warm up exercise into movement representative of your character.
Move about the room as your character would move. Follow various
instructions, such, "get yourself a beverage - what kind
is it and how do you drink it?"; or "waiting in line
at the bank - how patient are you?"; or "buying a
vehicle - how old/new and what kind?".
Activity
3 - Whole Group Improv Scene:
Using the suggestion for place as decided by the
class, set up a space for the improv to take place. Some
guidelines to remember include:
-
at
any point your character may enter or exit.
-
try
not to have too many in the scene at once, or too many story
lines, as it gets too confusing.
-
listen
carefully and respond - advance the story.
-
stay
in character at all times.
-
at
any point, the teacher or students may call Time Out
and everyone must stop and listen. Suggestions may be given
to help advance the story, or implausible actions questioned,
or new conflicts presented.
-
if
the scene is not working, just stop it, discuss it and come
up with a new scene.
Activity
4 - Spontaneous Inner Monologues:
The teacher will form unlikely characters into small groups
of three or four. Choose a location for the scene and a problem
(or give scenarios to one another) - such as: a minor car accident,
with 2 drivers, and 2 witnesses; or in a hospital waiting room
and the TV keeps losing reception; or standing in a long line
up to see a movie and some one lets in a friend.
Once
your group has been formed and scenes given, remember that
as the scene is played, at any point an audience member can
call "I.M. Bob" (use someone's name) and
the others go silent while that character says the inner monologue
revealing their true thoughts. Characters must remember that
whatever they hear revealed, they cannot respond - it is "inner
thoughts".
Evaluation:
Participation in improv exercises, journal entry.
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