Alan, David & Erin - Awkward Face - Pan  -2013)

In improv we get to make choices that are risky, dangerous and unreasonable.

Often in improv we make the choices we would make if there wasn't fear, or a negative consequence to our actions. 

We get to make the choices that we would be too afraid to make in everyday life. 

The "strongest" choice in everyday life would often create conflict, drama or struggle for ourselves or those we are interacting with in the moment. Sometimes it would be the best choice, but often not.

However in improv...

Drama, conflict and struggle are the things we come the theater to see. They are the things that bring the audience to the edge of their seats literally.

How do we make the strongest choice?

Some ways that work for me and have helped me in my exploration of the way of improv (Improv-Do?) are:

The choice is the most truthful or is the literal truth.
It is what you or your partner is really thinking, feeling or doing. Or the choice reveals the hidden truth of the characters.

It is the most emotional
It creates the most emotion for either yourself or your partner.

It is the most difficult
It is the hardest choice for you to make the one that challenges the ego not only of the character but often the actor.

It places you in the unknown
It is fun, risky, dangerous and feeds a feeling of personal unknowing - it places you in the improv space.

Strongest choices tend to create instant and honest reactions from you and your partner.

Strongest choices aren't necessarily about being louder, nor are they about arguing. They are are choices that explore the moment in much the way Hamlet did....to be, or not to be?

To do this, or to never do that...

To take the chance finally or to realize we will never take this chance.

Does the choice lead to a defining moment that is either high, or low for the character, or is it the same choice the character has always made?

If today were the last day, the only day, and now the only moment what would you do?

What is the thing that seems unreasonable to do for either yourself, your partner or the character. Hint it is often the choice that leads to opening doors or doors being closed once and for all.

Being reasonable and logical is not the stuff of interesting scenes...