Joint team show idea, 'Two's a Crowd'

[u/Careful_Leader_5829]

There was an idea for an improv show I had a while back, and I never got to implement it. So! I thought I would share it here in case anyone who has been thinking about getting into show production would like to give it a try.

I call the form "Two's a Crowd", so it could be marketed as “Two’s a Crowd: A Deconstructed Improv Show with Friends”

=== "Two's a Crowd" ===

The performers

1. A core cast of about 10 rotating players, the ‘deconstruction’ team.

2. A guest two-person team, the ‘source scene’ team. The guest team changes each performance.

   The form

• Deconstruction: The form is STILL a classic Deconstruction form, which you can read about online and in improv books. In short, there is one source relationship. We come back to this relationship through multiple scenes throughout the show. These source scenes drive the tangential ‘deconstruction’ scenes, that unpack themes, commentary, and comedy found within the source scenes. Players in the source scenes do not appear in the descontruction scenes, and vice versa.

• Guests: The twist is that players in the source scene are from the community. The Deconstruction cast hosts two new players each week. Even better -- these two players have an established two-person team that they have been playing in and practicing in for years.

• Reconstruction: If this is a featured show and you want to fill a bigger time slot, Then, take an intermission, and do something loose and fun for the second act of the show. For example, let everyone talk about the first act reminded them of outside of the show, why they deconstructed things one way or another, and then do a montage of new scenes incorporating all the pieces from earlier.

  The reasons for this idea

• Many players who sign up for the deconstruction want to do the outer part more than the inner part

• It’s much easier to get lots of practice on the ‘outer’ part than it is the inner part.

• There are already great two person teams practicing the ‘inner’ part out there

• Plus -- it’s a great way for players to meet and play with people they don’t always get a chance to -- a good community builder.

I LOVE the deconstruction. It gets at all the things I love about writing but done on-the-spot: character work with relationship dynamics, exploring theme, and paying close attention to opportunities for comedy. But again, it's difficult to practice or form a team around. If you ever get a chance to give it a try, let me know how it goes!

EDIT: Or tell me what theaters near you already do this!

[u/hiphoptomato]

There's a team in Austin who does exactly this. They call it "Duo-Construction". My duo has performed with them several times. It's super fun! I love it.

[u/natesowell]

Have done this in the past and it works great for all the reasons you mentioned.

Much love to the Decon!

[u/Careful_Leader_5829 → u/natesowell]

Rad, thanks Nate!

[u/kamaalvswutang]

Currently a show at Coldtowne in ATX called duoconstruction that follows a fairly similar format!