28th
Three Steps to Improv
- Listen
- Accept
- React
First, you listen. And watch and sense and read faces and generally pick up on any and all offers being made onstage. If you’re not paying attention, the audience certainly is and they will notice things being ignored.
Then you accept. You inwardly acknowledge the offer has been made. Do not undo it. Do not undermine it. Do not fear it. Even if it’s a “mistake”, it’s an offer. We all just saw/heard it. Tell yourself: “Yes, that just happened.” The character can ignore it, the character can fight it. The actor cannot ignore it, the actor cannot fight it.
Finally, you react. Address the offer. You outwardly acknowledge the offer has been made. Get enraged. Answer the question. Add a new detail. Create in your environment. All of this is at least inspired by- if not outright in response to- the offer.
Your scene partner repeats these steps. They listen for your reaction. They accept it and then they react. Back and forth in a feedback loop of improv power. It works every time.
-fv
