Austin Improv

Hi all! A simple query:

What are your favorite formats for duo improv? Which do you love doing most? Seeing most?

I ask because, while I've seen a handful of two-person shows, I've never been in one. And I'm about to. Soon. So yes, if you can tell me whatchya like, I'd be thankful.

Monoscene, a la TJ & Dave
Monoscene with popouts
The Harold (I've seen awesome two-person Harolds from McNichol & May and Galapagos)
Least stressful is probably some kind of montage, but then you have to edit yourselves

Who is your duo partner because I know this fat Mexican guy...

For duo stuff, I always recommend just talking it out with your partner before you even start playing. Every two-man team is going to play very differently because it is such a personal performance. I tend to be a fan of the monoscene, just because that's the way my brain works, but you may find that a faster style of play better suits your sensibilities. Having the conversation at the beginning or maybe after just goofing around a couple of times will give you a better idea of what you want to achieve.

Jeff and i started out doing montage in 710 Split, but it rarely clicked that well. we started doing our Fiction Suit format (one performer starts a character monologue, the other performer takes over halfway through, ensuing narrative spins out of that) as a rehearsal exercise to work on developing/investing in strong characters more, and it wound up inspiring us enough to start doing it onstage. so i think just finding something that delights and excites you is the most important thing. nothing's off limits!

ratliff wrote:Monoscene, a la TJ & Dave
Monoscene with popouts
The Harold (I've seen awesome two-person Harolds from McNichol & May and Galapagos)
Least stressful is probably some kind of montage, but then you have to edit yourselves

Wow! Thanks for the kind words, Ratliff!

I love two-person shows where folks play patiently, whether it's a single scene or not.

I love two-person shows that hit breakneck speeds with multiple scenes and multiple characters, too.

Adsit & Lutz at this year's OOB had a good mix of both (and their Sunday night show was amazing).

While I think it's neat when two people take on a form(at) that is usually done with more folks (Harold, The Movie, etc.), I pretty much will be into almost anything with people being super committed, taking risks, and being playful.

I echo Ratliff. Slow play within whatever is the overall format. Duo groups have a great deal of responsibility, there isnever anyone outside the scene to gift, or edit on a button. So playing slow helps, and it also leads to a more realistic theatrical piece.

Duo formats should be specific to the duo. As Razowsky says "Improv is in the casting".

And if there is just the two of you, there must be a good reason you chose to keep it at that.

Jill Bernard and I do a character switching show because I love her character work and I wanted to push my own.

Tom Booker and I perform Baxter & Bernard because they were these ridiculous characters that we thought would be fun to see in different situations.

Aden Kirschner and I do a Nichols & May style conversations set because she and I have voice characters in common. We love to play with rhythm and voice.

I'm constructing a format for Courtney Hopkin and I to perform based on what I think would be most fun to play with her in.

Yes, what Asaf said!

What is the Venn Diagram of the two of us, our favorite things to do and the things that make us most curious?