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.