Unconventional Duet

• Objective: Have two pairs of people play two characters that are singing to each other
• Instructions:
  • Four singing improvisers and a piano player are needed
  • The four singers split into two pairs that stand on opposite sides of the stage
  • Get a relationship and/or subject matter that two people could sing about
  • Each pair of singers plays the role of a single character in the scene
  • One pair sings a word at a time, the other pair sings simultaneously
  • The two pairs take turns singing to each other until the scene naturally ends
• Example:
  • *Singers 1 & 2 stand together stage left, singers 3 & 4 stand together stage right*
  • Singer 1: “Can I get an example of a relationship between two people?”
  • Audience: “Doctor and patient”
  • *Accompanist starts playing music*
  • Singer 1: “You”
  • Singer 2: “Took”
  • Singer 1: “My”
  • Singer 2: “Blood”
  • Singer 1: “Pressure”
  • Singer 2: “So”
  • Singer 1: “Well”
  • Singers 3 & 4: “I am diagnosing you with a case of attractiveness”
  • *this back and forth continues until the song comes to an end*
• Notes:
  • Make sure to focus your lyrics on the relationship and/or subject matter.
  • Incorporate physicality, especially when mixed with emotion, to make up for the fact that you are all stationary.
  • For the word at a time pair, avoid filler words or words that delay conveying useful/fun information.
  • For the simultaneous pair, it helps to look at each other and annunciate.
  • Though it makes it harder, try to sing quickly; it adds to the fun quite a lot.
• Video reference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wcB3dbFYKjQ
  • This video shows the spoken word improv game called Epistolaries, which is the inspiration for this musical version of the game