Improv Bestiary: The Mirror

The Mirror is a well-meaning but scared improviser. Maybe they're new, maybe they're uncomfortable with their partner,...maybe they've been told they "write too much" by a teacher. The mirror deals with this by going 110% on the Yes and 0% on the And.

Player A

I'm upset with you.

Player B

Yes! You're positively furious! Your knuckles are white!

Player A

You said you were done drinking and I find this?

Player B

That's a bottle! You're angry because you found that bottle I hid!

Player A

You were sober for two years!

Player B

I was sober for two years!

Like its cousin The Waterfall, The Mirror is trying to be supportive but is not taking care themselves. Without giving back, the weight of the scene gets stuck on the back of your partner. And while the The Waterfall comes from enthusiasm, The Mirror comes from fear. They often aren't confident in their choices, or their character so it's easy to just parrot the information that's already out there. It even kind of "sounds right". But it is really hard to play with.

To work on this tendency try exercises they get you out of judging yourself: lights down monologues, aggressive line switching, monologue rants (It's Tuesday!). Or drill the And of Yes And in circles or back and forth. Instilling confidence that they can just go with what comes out of their mouth without thinking about it and that that'll be supported should help break this pattern. 

Exercise: Lights Down Monologues

This is fun exercise I use a lot in my level ones. It works on storytelling, listening and support.

Have a back line and choose a player to start a true to life monologue. During the monologue start dimming the stage lights: if you get to complete blackness the monologue is over no matter where it is.

The only way to get the lights to reset is to tag out the monologist and continue the story from where they left off. As the monologue goes on the dimming becomes more aggressive until finally it either reaches total black from inaction or hits a resolution and you black it out.

Like conducted monologue, it works on active listening and being prepared, it additionally introduces the idea of action as support. Plus it gets frantic and fun and the stories get crazy, so it's a nice bonding game.

Play it multiple times... since it's all editing from the line more cautious or shy players might not try as much, gentle encouragement usually does the trick, especially after a couple runs when they see that the story can get nutso and that's ok.

If you don't have dimming lights, I've done this by standing next to speaker and lowering my hand from way up high and if it touches the ground it's over. It's a good workout that way too. Oof.

James's Observation

Paraphrased from my friend, and man who knows a thing or two about performing, James Rushin:

 Tentativeness and apathy are the two things an audience will not forgive


So feel something, jerk. And feel it all the way to your shoes.