Official description: A cutting from a play, humorous or serious, involving the portrayal of two or more characters presented by two individuals. This material may be drawn from stage, screen, or radio. This is not an acting event. Thus, no costumes, props, lighting, etc., are to be used. Presentation is from the manuscript and the focus should be off-stage and not to each other. Maximum time limit is 10 minutes including introduction.
What you should expect to get out of this event:
- You will enjoy some very good literature, making it "yours" in a special way.
- You will enjoy coming to understand and appreciate what makes it good.
- You will enjoy sharing your story and your insights with audiences.
- You will learn greater control of your voice and body, making both more expressive.
- You will learn self-control and poise under pressure.
- You will learn to become a better observer of the word around you, as you stay alert for clues that will make you a better interpreter.
- You will come to a better understanding of yourself, as you search your own experience to help you understand and convey your chosen reading.
- You will learn to "control a room" with your performance.
- You will learn a lot by watching excellent interpreters.
Special features of this event in competition:
In some tournaments DUO is a rather small event, but the competition is usually good. This is one of the toughest events for which to find good material. There is room for considerable imagination in staging and performing this event, and it will be fun to work with your team-mate to come up with ideas. DUO requires more than just two good interpers; it needs two that work well off of each other. It is truly a team effort.
What you will do to become competitive in this event:
Initial preparation: about 3 weeks
- select the Dramatic Duo event
- find a good partner
- find a good piece of a play (2-3 day)
- rough cut to approach time limit (1-2 days)
- type onto computer disk (1 day)
- final cut to about 7-8 minutes (1 day)
- print-out into competition book (1 day)
- preliminary analysis of material (2-3 days)
- early rehearsals (4-5 days)
- compose introduction and transitions (brief!)
- polishing rehearsals (4-5 days)
Between-tournament preparation:
- Possible recutting to improve selection or timing
- Possible revision of introduction and transitions
- Continuing analysis and rehearsals
Hints for finding material:
As with DI, start by remembering plays you have seen (or been in) and liked. Movie and TV screenplays are good sources too. Sometimes you can get a good cutting by audio-taping the sound track from a video, and typing out the words. But be careful of drawing from famous scenes or popular movies; the judge has seen Meryl Streep or Dustin Hoffman do it, and it will be hard for you to measure up to that competition. Maybe the best thing is to head for the library and read some new plays
Last updated: June 16, 2005
