Life Unscripted by Jeff Katzman M.D. & Dan O’Connor

Author:Jeff Katzman, M.D. & Dan O’Connor
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781623172718
Publisher: North Atlantic Books
Published: 2018-08-02T16:00:00+00:00

One Moment at a Time

Let’s examine the process of storytelling in improvisational theatre. Improvisers create stories in the moment. The first rule of collaboration is to be present, or in the words of philosopher and spiritual teacher Ram Dass: Be here now. Improvisers do warm-up games to become more present. As they become present in the space, they begin to see and feel offers everywhere. The arrangement of chairs on the stage, the way the lights are focused, the sights and sounds of the audience, the architecture of the performing space … in the right frame of mind, anything can constitute an offer.

Let’s look at an example of an improviser who is truly aware in the moment. This improviser was directed to start a scene on stage with no suggestions and no furniture. She was challenged to do a scene from nothing. The lights came up on her center stage. She looked out into the audience and noticed one audience member standing partially behind a pillar, stretching his neck to see her up on stage. This was her first offer. She made eye contact with the audience member and then moved to a part of the stage where he couldn’t see her. She began playing peek-a-boo with the audience member.

Another improviser called from offstage, “Jane, it’s time for supper, honey.”

The first improviser ran offstage and hid behind the pillar with the audience member. Eventually, a series of characters came to follow, all ending their scene behind the first improviser and the audience member. All of this was brought about by the first improviser being open to the moment and aware that an audience member was craning his neck.

Improvisers walk onto a stage with no idea of where their scene will start or where it might wind up. They must be open to the possibilities and opportunities of the moment. This is the key in real life as well. Be present. Open up to the potential stories that others offer, and try to build upon them. Listen, be curious, and open up as you move with someone through a moment in real life.

In our regular lives, this is no small task. We are driven to distraction. We multitask all the time. We react and follow directions. We rarely have a moment to wonder about our own personal story and to engage our imagination as a tool in our lives. With the advent of technology, we are more apt to turn to a cell phone out of habit as if the answer to our personal story resides in our pocket or purse rather than in our mind, body, and spirit.

Our default position is incurious. If we fail to set aside moments in our life in which we honor our imagination and wonder what story we would like our life to tell, we’ll never get where we want to go. We’ll be destined to live the life of the story we’ve been telling ourselves for years without ever editing it. And if we fail to engage our curiosity with others, we’ll never have the adventure of a new conversation.

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