COLUMNS or HUMAN MAD LIBS™
This game finds itself in almost every EIGHT IS NEVER ENOUGH performance. It is a great way to get audience members involved in the show.
Invite two audience volunteers to sit down stage left and right respectively. Ask audience for a location. Two players perform scene. Additional players may join in, as the scene requires. After the WHO and WHERE are strongly established, the players may point to the COLUMNS. The players should repeat and then justify whatever the COLUMN says. You, the player, are in control. You need to lead your COLUMNS. However if they throw you for a loop, you need to justify. This will become a great source of comedy. VARIATIONS – Instead of COLUMNS, allow the whole audience to chime in. Not recommended for new Improvisers as this can lead to chaos quickly.
As with any Improv game with a “GIMMICK”, remember to play the gimmick AND perform great theater. NO BLOCKS / NO QUESTIONS; BIG CHOICES / BIG VOICES; WHO / WHERE / WHAT. If you need to, refer to earlier posts on these topics in this blog.
AND OF COURSE NEVER FORGET RULE #1 “YES! And…”
