Synonyms
None
Introduction
If you don’t like what a performer has said you may yell “should have said” and the peformer will immediately say something new.
Description
Should Have Said is an overlay for an open scene where the performers are tasked with immediately responding to audience input. Whenever an audience member calls out “should have said” the performer must immediately replace that dialogue with new dialogue. Regardless of how rambunctious the audience is the performers must struggle to keep a narrative arc.
- Performer One ” I like that bicycle a lot”
- Performer Two “I like it’s majestic wheels”
- Performer One “I like it because it is blue”
- Audience “should have said”
- Peformer One “I like it because it is red.”
- Audience “should have said”
- Performer One “I like it because it can fly”
- Peforfmer Two “Yes. My red flying bicycle built for two”
The host can set this scene up with an example of how Should Have Said works. The host must also be prepared for chaos. Should of said is not recommended for intoxicated audiences. The performers and host should also be prepared for “should have said” to appear in later scenes that have not been endowed with this audience intervention. How this is handled varies from show to show.
Gimmicks
- Replacement dialogue is long in place of short or vice versa.
- Subtle changes that say the same thing over and over.
Variations
- Should Have Done – applicable to actions or stage directions.
Credits
- None