Incorporating Improvisational Acting Technique into Scripted Performances

There I was, standing in front of several hundred people, delivering my primary monologue of the play and suddenly - I blanked. There were literally no thoughts crossing in my mind except, "Oh no." If you've ever been in this situation, you'll know exactly what I'm talking about. The moment you forget your lines, can be horrifying - almost crippling.

Thankfully, throughout the years of acting training I've done previously, a good portion of this was in improvisational skills. Without a moments notice, I began to improve my lines, trying my hardest to keep within the same premise of the scene, until I could remember my upcoming lines.

Improvisational skills will not only allow you to make more daring choices while on stage or in front of the camera, but it can also save you from a lifetime of embarrassment - or at least a nights worth.

Incorporating improvisational skills into scripted acting must be done very carefully. I have seen actors incorporate improv, and the result was a completely mess. They derailed from the primary purpose of the scene and caused the rest of the actors to falter.

There are several guidelines you can follow when incorporating improvisational skills into scripted acting; however, these should only be used in an emergency situation - much like my previous story.

Staying Within the Scope of the Script

The most important thing to remember when incorporating improvisational skills into a scripted performance, is to make sure your words stay within the same scope of the script. While you may have forgotten the exact words, you must remember the overall goal of your lines. For example, if the goal of a scene is to tell your friend that you're hopelessly in love with her and want to take her to the upcoming dance, but you forget your lines, make sure that your improvisational words still end at the ultimate goal.

Physical Improvisational Skills

I was doing a small company play, it was a onetime showing, and in a rush I walked onto the stage before my cue. As I was walking in with a fellow actor, he had to follow me (thankfully). Quickly realizing that I was on stage too soon, instead of walking off stage, and making it evident that I made a mistake, I stayed to the side of the stage and began holding an impromptu, silent, conversation with my partner. At the conclusion of the play, the director said she noticed my mistake, but the way I physically improved the scene kept the audience under the belief that this was scripted.

Incorporating physical improvisational skills into a scripted performance is typically done because the actor forgot his staging, or there was some unforeseen event that requires immediate physical attention.

Like using words, physical improv must be done within the scope of the script, and in your character. Simply view this type of acting as engaging in unscripted character performance.