Learning to IMPROVISE with PANTOMIME and/or VOCAL INFLECTION is a skill young actors must practice in order to become proficient. ONE WORD SCENES are an important tool to use for this training in the arsenal of acting games and activities. These scenes are set up as SITUATIONS to be played by two actors. Usually one of the actors tries to convince the other about something, but they are only allowed to use one word, such as YES, NO or MAYBE. Through their use of pantomimed actions or use of simple props and their vocal inflections of the one word, all of the meaning in the scene should be conveyed to the audience.
SITUATIONS - The simplest situations are created from real-life scenarios, such as having one actor be the shopper the other the salesperson. The salesperson tries to convince the shopper to buy something. The shopper takes his time making the decision and needs to be shown many options before committing to the sale. Each situation should have a beginning, a middle (the business to transact), and a conclusion (does not need to end successfully for the salesperson). Each scene should conclude in less than one minute and the actors are allowed just the use of one word. They can say that word many different ways, though - as a question, as an answer, in showing they haven't made up their mind yet and need to be shown something else, and so forth.
The situations and words assignments can be drawn from a hat or made up on the spot and given by the teacher/director.
Male Shopper - 1. Hardware store shopping for power tools 2. Sports store buying golf clubs, fishing poles, baseball bats, football cleats, etc. (Stick to one specific genre per scene) 3. Car dealership buying a fancy sports car
4. Electronics store shopping for the latest hand-held gadget (smart phone, game player, tablet, etc.)
Female shopper - 1. Department store shopping for make-up or hair styling products 2. Jewelry store shopping for rings, earrings, bracelets or necklaces 3. Shoe store looking for the latest fashion high heels 4. Bridal shop buying the perfect wedding veil
Situations with one simple prop
1. In a fancy French restaurant ordering from a MENU (paper folded to resemble a menu) - definitely demonstrating a language barrier. The waiter resorts to all forms of body language and gestures trying to explain the choices on the menu. The customer tries to make a decision from the choices the waiter tries to explain. Neither of them can use more than the one word they are assigned. (May also use table and chair.)
2. In a hat shop picking out a HAT or CAP. The shopper tries on the hat in many different ways and may even pretend that the one hat is actually many hats of different styles. The salesperson may resort to flattery in his gestures and referring to a pretend mirror, anything to make the sale. But each of them are allowed to speak just the one word.
3. In a clothing store picking out a SCARF. The shopper may pretend the scarf is any type of clothing item she may like such as a shawl, or tie, or hood, or a scarf for warmth or just decoration. The salesperson may even show her some unique ways of tying or draping the scarf. They can only use the same one word in their exchanges.
4. Door to Door Sales using a HAND BRUSH or BROOM. The salesman knocks at the door and presents the person with offerings from his bag. He must demonstrate the use of the one prop in many different ways to try to get the sale. They are each allowed to say just the one word.
SITUATIONS - The simplest situations are created from real-life scenarios, such as having one actor be the shopper the other the salesperson. The salesperson tries to convince the shopper to buy something. The shopper takes his time making the decision and needs to be shown many options before committing to the sale. Each situation should have a beginning, a middle (the business to transact), and a conclusion (does not need to end successfully for the salesperson). Each scene should conclude in less than one minute and the actors are allowed just the use of one word. They can say that word many different ways, though - as a question, as an answer, in showing they haven't made up their mind yet and need to be shown something else, and so forth.
The situations and words assignments can be drawn from a hat or made up on the spot and given by the teacher/director.
Male Shopper - 1. Hardware store shopping for power tools 2. Sports store buying golf clubs, fishing poles, baseball bats, football cleats, etc. (Stick to one specific genre per scene) 3. Car dealership buying a fancy sports car
4. Electronics store shopping for the latest hand-held gadget (smart phone, game player, tablet, etc.)
Female shopper - 1. Department store shopping for make-up or hair styling products 2. Jewelry store shopping for rings, earrings, bracelets or necklaces 3. Shoe store looking for the latest fashion high heels 4. Bridal shop buying the perfect wedding veil
Situations with one simple prop
1. In a fancy French restaurant ordering from a MENU (paper folded to resemble a menu) - definitely demonstrating a language barrier. The waiter resorts to all forms of body language and gestures trying to explain the choices on the menu. The customer tries to make a decision from the choices the waiter tries to explain. Neither of them can use more than the one word they are assigned. (May also use table and chair.)
2. In a hat shop picking out a HAT or CAP. The shopper tries on the hat in many different ways and may even pretend that the one hat is actually many hats of different styles. The salesperson may resort to flattery in his gestures and referring to a pretend mirror, anything to make the sale. But each of them are allowed to speak just the one word.
3. In a clothing store picking out a SCARF. The shopper may pretend the scarf is any type of clothing item she may like such as a shawl, or tie, or hood, or a scarf for warmth or just decoration. The salesperson may even show her some unique ways of tying or draping the scarf. They can only use the same one word in their exchanges.
4. Door to Door Sales using a HAND BRUSH or BROOM. The salesman knocks at the door and presents the person with offerings from his bag. He must demonstrate the use of the one prop in many different ways to try to get the sale. They are each allowed to say just the one word.
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