Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board: Ad Lib

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Nanette
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Joined: 8/01/06
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Posts: 399

Topic: Ad Lib
Posted: 12/03/07 at 8:07am

You can't "teach" someone to ad lib, but you can discuss ways of preparing for situations that require it. Working with children, however, sometimes they just don't get it ... not enough experience.

I'm happy to say that last night, one of my kids almost got it! She came on for curtain before the final scene was over. Even though she was terribly embarrassed, she grandly exited the stage. Later she came up and told me she should have "stayed in character and waved the members of the scene off on their journey." Honestly, I was so proud of her at the moment ... even if it came 15 minutes too late. At least she's learning! :o)

In a world of margarine, be butter!

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eveharrington
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Joined: 8/28/06
Location: United States
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Posts: 198

Posted: 12/03/07 at 6:48pm

Unfortunately, I've found that no matter how well you might handle these situations, you will always think of a better way as soon as it's too late.

"If nothing else, there's applause... like waves of love pouring over the footlights."

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bbpchick
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Joined: 7/17/07
Location: United States
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Posts: 86

Posted: 12/19/07 at 11:50pm

Over the summer I was directing a cast with a lot of newbies. Most of them hadn't been on stage before. So I was in a similar situation in which I had to find a way to teach people to ad lib if things got out of wack. So what I did was once we were running the play straight through (which I scheduled to be three weeks before opening), I told them they were not to break character, they wern't getting help with lines and they had to just keep going. It worked out really well. One night they got totally lost, ad libbed their way through it until they got back on track. This was a melodrama, so ad libs are especially important because you have the audience yelling things at you, booing and hissing, yaying and awwing and you have to be able to work through that and react to it as well. After that night, we had ad libs flying all over the place when people messed up, or when me and my crew shouted something to them to simulate what they might expect from the audience. Now most plays you won't have audience participation, but I have found that just letting them work through a scene where things get messed up really gets people to think on their feet and just keep talking until they find their spot again. Another thing that has really helped several actors in our theater is we did an improv show. I was in the improv show and found that ad libbing has been much easier ever since. I know it's been done, but it really does help.

Kendra
www.murphysblackbartplayers.com
You are NEVER too old to dress up!

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whitebat
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Joined: 8/05/07
Location: United States
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 137

Posted: 1/09/08 at 10:13pm

I've done Interactive Murder Mysteries, which are essentially ALL ad-lib. Whether they've prepared me to ad-lib in another situation remains to be seen. At least they didn't ask me "What did you do with the sheep?"

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Ray Faiola
Walk-On
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Joined: 3/11/08
Location: United States
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Posted: 3/11/08 at 11:06am

Oh, Lord, Whitebat, I'll have to look out for that one (the sheep!). I'm playing Dr. Watson in SHERLOCK HOLMES AND THE WHITE WOLVES OF NAPANOCH - an interactive murder mystery - later this month. I've been trying to anticipate every possible curve ball. But you got me with that one!!

Ray Faiola
http://www.chelsearialtostudios.com

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whitebat
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Joined: 8/05/07
Location: United States
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Posts: 137

Posted: 3/12/08 at 7:20pm

Much more embarassing, from our New Year's IMM (Interactive Murder Mystery). People asked if the Mayor had gotten his secretary pregnant (motive!). I hope that one never got back to the actress! She was very brave about wearing a revealing "flapper" costume. She doesn't have the waiflike body type that maybe fits the flapper stereotype, but certainly is not pregnant.

I suppose I'd better supply the story about the sheep. We were doing an X-Files themed IMM. We were supposed to have sort of a circus as part of the show, but apparently the most exotic animals we could borrow were sheep. So the particularly obnoxious "Team Puff" was asking Scully and Mulder "What did you do with the sheep?".

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Ray Faiola
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Joined: 3/11/08
Location: United States
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 0

Posted: 3/12/08 at 9:24pm

HAH! That Mayor story reminds me of the old water weight build-up commercial - "Hello, my dear, what a lovely maternity dress....Oh you're NOT!" smirk smirk

Ray Faiola
http://www.chelsearialtostudios.com

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Acting
Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board :Producing Theater :Acting

Author	Message
Nanette Celebrity Joined: 8/01/06 Online Status: Offline Posts: 399	Topic: Ad Lib Posted: 12/03/07 at 8:07am
	You can't "teach" someone to ad lib, but you can discuss ways of preparing for situations that require it. Working with children, however, sometimes they just don't get it ... not enough experience. I'm happy to say that last night, one of my kids almost got it! She came on for curtain before the final scene was over. Even though she was terribly embarrassed, she grandly exited the stage. Later she came up and told me she should have "stayed in character and waved the members of the scene off on their journey." Honestly, I was so proud of her at the moment ... even if it came 15 minutes too late. At least she's learning! :o)
	In a world of margarine, be butter!

	IP Logged

eveharrington Celebrity Joined: 8/28/06 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 198	Posted: 12/03/07 at 6:48pm
	Unfortunately, I've found that no matter how well you might handle these situations, you will always think of a better way as soon as it's too late.
	"If nothing else, there's applause... like waves of love pouring over the footlights."
	IP Logged

bbpchick Star Joined: 7/17/07 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 86	Posted: 12/19/07 at 11:50pm
	Over the summer I was directing a cast with a lot of newbies. Most of them hadn't been on stage before. So I was in a similar situation in which I had to find a way to teach people to ad lib if things got out of wack. So what I did was once we were running the play straight through (which I scheduled to be three weeks before opening), I told them they were not to break character, they wern't getting help with lines and they had to just keep going. It worked out really well. One night they got totally lost, ad libbed their way through it until they got back on track. This was a melodrama, so ad libs are especially important because you have the audience yelling things at you, booing and hissing, yaying and awwing and you have to be able to work through that and react to it as well. After that night, we had ad libs flying all over the place when people messed up, or when me and my crew shouted something to them to simulate what they might expect from the audience. Now most plays you won't have audience participation, but I have found that just letting them work through a scene where things get messed up really gets people to think on their feet and just keep talking until they find their spot again. Another thing that has really helped several actors in our theater is we did an improv show. I was in the improv show and found that ad libbing has been much easier ever since. I know it's been done, but it really does help.
	Kendra www.murphysblackbartplayers.com You are NEVER too old to dress up!
	IP Logged

whitebat Celebrity Joined: 8/05/07 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 137	Posted: 1/09/08 at 10:13pm
	I've done Interactive Murder Mysteries, which are essentially ALL ad-lib. Whether they've prepared me to ad-lib in another situation remains to be seen. At least they didn't ask me "What did you do with the sheep?"
	IP Logged

Ray Faiola Walk-On Joined: 3/11/08 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Posted: 3/11/08 at 11:06am
	Oh, Lord, Whitebat, I'll have to look out for that one (the sheep!). I'm playing Dr. Watson in SHERLOCK HOLMES AND THE WHITE WOLVES OF NAPANOCH - an interactive murder mystery - later this month. I've been trying to anticipate every possible curve ball. But you got me with that one!!
	Ray Faiola http://www.chelsearialtostudios.com
	IP Logged

whitebat Celebrity Joined: 8/05/07 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 137	Posted: 3/12/08 at 7:20pm
	Much more embarassing, from our New Year's IMM (Interactive Murder Mystery). People asked if the Mayor had gotten his secretary pregnant (motive!). I hope that one never got back to the actress! She was very brave about wearing a revealing "flapper" costume. She doesn't have the waiflike body type that maybe fits the flapper stereotype, but certainly is not pregnant. I suppose I'd better supply the story about the sheep. We were doing an X-Files themed IMM. We were supposed to have sort of a circus as part of the show, but apparently the most exotic animals we could borrow were sheep. So the particularly obnoxious "Team Puff" was asking Scully and Mulder "What did you do with the sheep?".
	IP Logged

Ray Faiola Walk-On Joined: 3/11/08 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Posted: 3/12/08 at 9:24pm
	HAH! That Mayor story reminds me of the old water weight build-up commercial - "Hello, my dear, what a lovely maternity dress....Oh you're NOT!" smirk smirk
	Ray Faiola http://www.chelsearialtostudios.com
	IP Logged

Topic: Ad Lib( Topic Closed)