Description
This is one of the most requested games in my acting classes. The more times they play it, the more specific and competitive the session becomes. Anyone can participate, but you will need a quick mind to win!
Materials
Several players, one judge and an open performance space.
Space Required
Open space to moveInstructions
1. The group forms a line on the edge of the performance space. 2 players move to the center of the space to begin.
2. Player A asks Player B "What are you doing?" Player B responds ex. "I'm knitting a sweater." At this point Player A must pantomime the action given by player B.
3. Player B then asks Player A "What are YOU doing?" Player A must respond with any action OTHER than the one they are currently performing. ex "I'm jumping rope." At this point Player B must pantomime this action spoken by Player A.
4. This pattern continues back and forth between the two players. Each actor must continue the pantomime until they are given a new action.
5. A player is ruled out (one person is usually the judge and does not join the rotation) if:
- they state the action they are performing (from the above situation if at #3 Player A responds with "I'm knitting a sweater."
- the state an action that is very similiar to the one they are performing (ex. Player A is "mopping" and they reply "I'm sweeping"
- they hesitate and are unable to reply in a specific period of time
6. Once a player is ruled "out", they exit the performance space and go to the end of the line. The next person in line steps into the space and asks the remaining player "What are you doing?" The back and forth challenge begins again.
Adaptations
Once the group gets better at the game, I make it more challenging. One adaptation is to shorten the length of time in which they must respond. Another change can be that once an action has been performed by any member of the group, it is off-limits for the remainder of that game.