Intro to Improv Week 3 - Object Work
Object Work
On an improv stage we usually only have each other and a few chairs. Everything else we make up. We want to treat objects like they are real, with weight size, and volume, use them and put them away like we would real things. Phones aren’t two fingers because that’s not how we hold a real phone. When sweeping with a broom or mopping with a mop, try and keep the handle straight. And try not to let your improv objects disappear into thin air. If you’re holding an improv bottle of beer, you’re holding that beer until you set it down.
The more realistic we treat the object, the more the audience will buy into the illusion. Even if you have real things like phones on your person, still use improv objects. Pay with an improv wallet, take off improv clothes, tie improv shoes, etc. The only real objects you should interact with on an improv stage are the chairs, which can be used for couches, chairs and cars.
Make the Scene About the RELATIONSHIPS, Not the Objects
Object work can clearly establish WHERE the scene is taking place, and does a great job of filling in the scene. However, be careful to let scenes be about the people and their relationships more than the objects.
If a dad is working on his improv car while chatting with his son, it would be really easy to get into a scene where he’s teaching car maintenance. But that’s a boring teaching scene. The better option is while showing Jimmy how to change spark plugs, dad confesses “Hey buddy, I’ve got some news for you – your mom and I are splitting up.” while turning a improv ratchet. That is far more interesting!
The conversation should be about relationships and feelings, and the objects are just what you happen to be doing while talking. It enhances your improv world and makes it more realistic and far more interesting!
Environment Work
Environment Work takes things a step further than object work. Object works is dealing with an individual object, but Environment Work is playing with your entire space. Are you in a kitchen? Are you in a garage? Are you in the office? If so, what can you interact with in your environment?
Maybe while you’re talking you make a bowl of cereal, going to the cabinet, taking a box out, opening the box, grabbing a bowl from the sink, pouring the cereal into the bowl, putting milk on the cereal and eating it with a spoon… all the while continuing to talk about how your son, little Johnny, got a C on his math quiz that morning.
Often improvisers find themselves in what we call ‘Eleven Scenes’ where two people are standing talking to each other, but no movement is happening. They are usually fine verbally, but could be much more interesting physically.
If you find yourself in one of these, think you yourself ‘where am i right now and what could be be interacting with?’ and just start doing that. Your scene partner will likely pick up on it and join you in the activity or something that compliments it.
This simple move will often supercharge a scene from good to great!
Improv Video of the Week
Late Show: The Invisible Props Department
Here’s a great example of Stephen Colbert doing excellent object work on his show:
Improv Exercises
Snap Pass
A simple Object Work game. Form a circle. One person throws a ‘snap’ to another person in the circle. That person catches the snap, honoring the way it was thrown, and then throws it to someone else with a second snap. One snap to catch and another snap to throw.
When the game is ready to end, someone catches the snap in their mouth and swallows it.