Quick Description
Three players. The player in the middle (the monkey) switches between two different scenes whenever one of the other players repeats a line of dialogue from the other scene.
How to play
Three players stand in a row.
The player in the middle starts a 2 person scene with a player on either side.
The third player repeats a line of dialogue from the scene between the other two players …which turns the middle player toward that player and they start an unrelated 2 person scene.
They switch between the two scenes whenever a line is repeated.
Example
Players B is in the middle.
Player B turns to player a and starts a scene.
Player B: Morning Roger, looks like a great day for a game of golf.
Player A: Yes, Samantha, its good to be on the course first thing in the morning.
Player B: It’s the perfect time to talk about your promotion in the company. I see great things in your future.
Player C: (on the other side of the Player B and A). I see great things in your future.
Player B turns to Player C and a different scene begins.
Player C: Yes, great things. You are only in second grade but already you show tremendous talent for painting.
Player B: Thank you Principal Higgins, my painting of you was fun.
And it continues to shift between the two scenes.
Notes
Any player can start the scene. When you return to a scene you can jump in time forward to backwards.
This could be used to focus on endowments (letting your partner know where the scene is taking place, what the relationship is between the characters) or genres, or characters….or anything.
Variations
To switch from one scene to another a coach or other player can call switch (ring a bell or clap their hands).
Origins
I learned this game from improvisers in Nice, France. It’s called Monkey in the Middle because the middle player has to ‘swing’ between the two scenes quickly.
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