“Being skilled at improvisation does not depend on talent but rather on giving your best effort. Improvisation is the ability to generate ideas spontaneously, without prior knowledge or preparation. In the realm of drama, being proficient in improvisation is crucial.”
There are different viewpoints on the necessary skills for improvisation. Achieving success in improvisation is not mainly dependent on talent, but rather on the actor’s dedicated endeavor to become a proficient improviser and their determination to excel. Evaluating this can involve observing the actor’s level of concentration, their knowledge of essential improvisation principles like “make,” “accept,” and “extend,” as well as their dedication to interacting with fellow actors. Concentration plays a vital role in improvisation.
If an actor is overly fixated, it becomes apparent in their actions, interactions with other actors, and dialogue. In our previous class, we participated in a game called “line starters,” where we had to create a scene using a given line. I was assigned the line “I am going to need more than that” as the starting point for my improvisation.
Once I delivered my line, my partner and I became overly focused on determining the next line, resulting in the scene not progressing. Therefore, it is not beneficial to be overly concentrated when attempting to excel at improvisation. On the other hand, a lack of concentration is equally detrimental when improvising. This lack of focus prevents actors from comprehending the offer being made, leading to unsuccessful improvisation. This was evident during our game of “Bob, Carol, Fred, Alice” as those who lacked concentration struggled to maintain rhythm and accept the offer presented when their name or number was mentioned.
In improvisation, the most crucial factor is the knowledge of the basics, specifically the concept of “make, accept, extend”. This involves one person making an offer, which is then accepted by another and extended by the actors in the scene. Today in class, a great demonstration of this concept was presented during an improvisation game.
One group created a game show scene for another group to perform in. The acting group quickly realized the scenario they were placed in and continued the scene without any pause. Another funny instance of “make, accept, extend” occurred during a class activity where we acted out waiting at a bus stop. Jerrah pretended to be pregnant and in labor.
Out of nowhere, Gabby made the spontaneous decision to take on the role of the baby. Jerrah promptly agreed to the proposition and they both acted it out in a ridiculously comical manner. Additionally, a crucial aspect of improvisation involves actively engaging with one’s fellow performers. Without this interaction, scenes, scenarios, and everything else would cease to exist.
Improvisation is essential for effective interaction among actors. The game of “line starters” showcased this brilliantly. When the actors made a genuine effort to engage with each other, the scenes became entertaining and enjoyable. Lara and Tamara’s portrayal of “feeling the music” particularly stood out in this regard.
Once the scene had begun and the offer had been accepted, the two individuals engaged in constant interaction, ensuring an absence of dull moments throughout the scene. However, some occasions exposed poor examples of interaction when a third person was present alongside the two. On these occasions, the third person demonstrated minimal effort to engage with the others, almost as if they were not part of the scene. While improvisation is a crucial skill for actors, it is more important to possess the appropriate level of concentration, grasp the concept of “make, accept, extend,” and effectively interact with fellow actors rather than relying solely on talent.
