COMPLICATION

Once students can establish conflicts on stage, they are ready to go on to complete improvised scenes.  Point out to them that what makes a scene more interesting is complications, extra things that get in the way of the character getting what he/she wants.  To teach the art of creating complications, I like to use chain improvisations.  In a chain improv, two actors start the scene.  Additional actors, each with their own strong motivation, enter one at a time, each one further complicating the scene.
Here is a typical set of instructions for a chain improvisation:
  1. You're a part-time musician who would like to be full time.  You've just found this great deal on a guitar and amplifier--and you're convinced that this equipment would give you the sound you need to really make it as a musician.  You must convince your wife to let you buy the amp and guitar--but it's got to be done right now.  The guy who owns the equipment is going to sell it to someone else if you don't make a decision tonight.
  2. Your husband has really been running up the bills lately.  To make matters worse, he hasn't been working steady.  Your dad has promised you he'll get your husband a decent job working at an electronics factory.  Your goal is to convince your husband to stop buying things on credit and to take the job your dad wants to give him.
  3. You're the drummer of a rock band.  Actor #1 is your lead guitar player.  Rehearsal was supposed to start an hour ago.  Your job is to get #1 out of the house and to rehearsal.
  4. You're the apartment manager.  This couple hasn't paid the rent in two months.  You want the rent paid or them out of the apartment--immediately.
  5. You're actress number one's best friend.  You need her to baby sit for you right now.  Your regular sitter just called in sick, and you can't find anyone else.  You're supposed to be at work in 20 minutes, and if you're late again you're going to get fired.
  6. You're actress number one's father.  You have a job in your electronics factory for her husband, but you have to get the position filled now.  You want to know if he's going to take the job or not tonight.
  7. You're a police officer.  The neighbors have been complaining about the noise.  Get these people to quiet down.
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