Big Book of Improv Games - 30 - EBOOK by Spragge Andrew & Eichler Karen

Author:Spragge, Andrew & Eichler, Karen
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Defiant Monkey Press
Published: 2021-09-06T00:00:00+00:00

Split Screen

Remember back to the days when televisions had vertical and horizontal hold adjustments? If you do, the description of Split Screen might make more sense. Picture a television, in a wooden cabinet if you please. The screen has a fuzzy line down the middle, dividing the scene in two. On the left half of the screen is what would normally be on the right. On the right half of the screen is what should be on the left. Essentially, the picture got “pushed” to the left, so it is split in half, with the actual left part of the image wrapping around onto the right side. Get it yet? To perform live, you need four actors, two on each side of the stage, playing two characters.

Let’s see how it works as an improv scene (Note: all left/right directions are from audience point of view):

Location suggestion is “kitchen”. The middle of the stage now has an invisible wall. Two improvisers begin on one side of the stage (we’ll say audience left). The characters Jan and Peter are speaking and Peter goes to grab a drink from the refrigerator, walking from near mid-stage to the edge and off the left side. On the right side of the stage, another actor walks on, goes to the refrigerator and grabs a drink. Jan, still on the left, is speaking to him, looking off the left side of the stage. Peter, at the refrigerator, talks back to her, looking off the right side of the stage. Peter crosses again, holding a drink, moves to the audience right side of the stage, exiting off the edge, while the original actor playing Peter strides onto the left side, now holding a drink.

JAN

Hey, grab me a drink, too.

PETER

(Turns and steps off the left, his counterpart enters on the right and goes to the fridge)

JAN

(Moves toward the left, but only to the edge, now facing away from the other actor)

PETER

(Opens fridge, looks off right to speak, which is away from the other actor)

Sorry, they’re just knock-off drinks. This is a Poopsie.

(Mimes holding a can and reaches off the right side of the stage. On the other side, his counterpart’s hand reaches out to Jan, miming a can)

JAN

(Takes the can)

I hope our invention makes us rich so we can buy brand-name food.

TIPS:

Have strong, clear characters and be sure the actors on both sides keep them strong and clear.

No, the “wall” in the middle cannot be crossed. Technically, it is the edge of the set and a performer could only exit that way (but since you can’t while live on stage, the actors simply can’t leave).

If you discover a gimmick (like rolling something across the stage, which won't obey the rules of the split screen), save it for late in the game, and only use it once.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.