Stuart Reid made a great comment about an improv workshop on his Facebook page today.
The big difference between a) going into a scene thinking I’ll be the funny one in this scene and b) going into the scene deciding my partner will be the funny one in the scene.
The first choice keeps me locked in my head wondering how to be funny, and is hard to show. The second choice instantly creates a relationship, has me interested in my partner and everything she does, and makes me much less self-conscious as my focus is external and not internal. And it just works much better on stage as a result – the relationship starts to create a more interesting scene instantly.
That’s got to be worth a try.
