How to play
One or more players in the scene have their arms substituted by another player’s arms.
The right to bear arms
This game is often played with audience volunteers. The volunteer stands directly behind the player and sticks their arms under the arms of the player. The player simply puts their arms at their sides or hide them behind their back.
Sometimes the player can prompt the action. For example, “Look over there, where I’m pointing.”
Other times the person supplying the arms can prompt the action. For example if the person starts to scratch the players nose, the player might say, “I seem to have an itch on my nose.”
Variations
Put two people behind the player. One supplies the right arm and the other supplies the left.
This can be combined with lots of other games. I’ve seen it combined with “Opera,” “Experts,” “Film Noir” to name a few.
Notes
We most often play with same sex pairs.
When you are choosing volunteers to play this game on stage with you, it’s best to resist the drunk ones or the ones being too rowdy. We have had it go ‘off the rails’ with physical slapping and inappropriate touching. Not often, but it has happened.
When we ask for volunteers, we don’t tell them what they’re volunteering for. We let that be a discovery. And when we explain the game, we caution them about treating the players well. We want a playful spirit on stage and we want it to be safe and comfortable for everyone.
And you don’t need to use volunteers, you can use other players. It works that way too.
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