Synonyms
Reigen. 360. Circle of Love. STI.
Introduction
We are about to watch a series of 2 hander scenes where the characters interact with each other before and after they have become lovers.
Description
La Ronde is about how characters interact before they are lovers and after they are lovers. This long form structure does not involve players acting out sex on stage.
Like the play that it is based on, La Ronde, is a very structured series of scenes. Each player does 4 scenes maintaining the same character for each scene. The 1st and 2nd scenes are with 2 other characters before they become lovers. The 3rd and 4th scenes are with the same 2 characters after they became lovers.
The character explorations between the first and second series of scenes are ripe with opportunity. Love may be flourishing. Guilt may be fermenting. The emotions of loss: anger, sadness, loss. The time passing could be event related: babies, infections, trysts, or bullying. The structure is the strongest if character pair up tackles a different aspect of falling into sex and the impact of sex on a relationship.
Birds and Bees of this structure
Consider the structure with 4 players. The first wave of scenes involves characters who are NOT lovers yet. Player 1 does a scene with player 2. Player 3 taps out player 1 leading to a scene between players 2 and 3. Player 4 taps out player 2 leading to a scene by players 3 and 4. Then follows a series of scenes with players 4 and 1. The second wave of scenes will involve characters who have been, or continue to be, lovers. The key change over is when player 2 taps out player 4 and we return to a scene with players 1 and 2. To hell with this! Here is a list.
- set up
- 1 and 2
- 2 and 3
- 3 and 4
- 4 and 1
- it is all different now.
- 1 and 2
- 2 and 3
- 3 and 4
- 4 and 1
- end
History of La Ronde
La Ronde is based on the play of the same name by the radical turn of the century physician Arthur Schnitzler. Dr. Schnitzler corresponded with Sigmund Freud and was part of the decadent movement. Even though the scripted play involved no sex at all it was labelled as pornography. The play and Dr. Schnitzler fell under the hateful scrutiny of Nazi Germany. His works were burned by Joseph Goebbels and were included in the “Jewish filth” narrative of Adolf Hitler.
- set the category
- create the excerpt
- add some tags
- The STI (sexually transmitted improvisation).
- Non-human interactions (vibrators, talking animals, aliens, robots)
- Repeat the exact same scene as if nothing has changed.
Variations
Any major event in a relationship could be explored between the first and second waves: Death in the family, affair, job loss, first child, etc.
Credits
IO, Chicago Improv, People and Chairs