Last time, we went over some piece selection tips for HI and DI. Now, let’s do the same for Open and Duo Interpretation.  

Open Interpretation

Open Interpretation is unique from its single-performer counterparts because it does not specify a mood. Though this may seem liberating, it creates significant challenges for the competitor. Selecting a piece that allows you to stand out from the (very) diverse crowd is essential to your competitive success.

Extreme Emotional Moods

It’s important to remember that “open” simply means that competitors can use emotional dynamics that are polar to your own. To be successful in Open Interpretation, you must still craft a story with an intentional emotional direction. Pieces that make your judges laugh or cry will always rank higher than a piece that lacks raw emotion. Even if you nail your performance, the competitor that drives the judge to care or feel will be the easiest for the judge to remember when filling out their ballots. Choose a piece that portrays humor, drama, or both – nothing mediocre.

Single Interpretation Style

Interp style falls into two categories: scene and storytelling. In a scene interp, the audience is witnessing an acting performance and the characters do not acknowledge the audience. In a storytelling piece, the audience builds an emotional connection with the storyteller as he or she shares a tale. In any interp, you should pick just one of these. Imagine how jarring it would be if the main character in a movie stopped acting and looked at the audience, asking them if they liked how the film was progressing so far. Film (and interp) work because the performance is committed to a single style: scene or storytelling. We’ll discuss this more in a future post, for now, ensure that your script doesn’t jump between these two styles.

Duo Interpretation

A successful duo interpretation requires a storyline that supports both competitors. A successful DI, HI, or OI piece may not succeed in Duo Interpretation.  It’s especially important to think of the big picture and keep the performance in mind when selecting a story.

Balanced Cast

For Duo Interpretation, each competitor must be equally featured in the presentation. Choosing a story that only contains a single central character will make your presentation seem unbalanced. Keep an eye out for pieces that have two central characters for both you and your partner.

Synchronization & Blocking Opportunities

How well duo competitors interact with one other during a performance determines their success. Interesting and well-executed movement is vital for any duo interpretation. If your story has a riveting plotline but no movement, it’ll flop. Choose stories that contain interesting settings or events that you can animate through movement.

There’s a lot more to cover on interp - stay tuned for future posts!

If you want to work on a piece you’ve already written, book a session with me and we can get started!