Synonyms
So what you are saying is.
Introduction
Please organize into pairs..
Description
The full name of this exercise is “So what you are saying is … So I’ll …”
The first player starts by making a lovely offer as part of a conversation. After that first offer is made the remaining sentences are very structured and required acute listening. The response will be “So what you are saying is lovely offer. So I’ll expand that lovely offer a bit.”
For example, the first player says, “It is a lovely day out.” The second player says, “So what you are saying is, It is a lovely day out. So I will go for a walk.” The first player could say “So what you are saying is you’ll go for a walk. So I will get my shoes.” The story that builds should be a logical one. The story is unlikely to win a Pulitzer prize, but it should make sense. This continues until a story is completed.
So I’ll is both an exercise and a tool. A player can use So I’ll as a performance tool if they find themselves at a loss for words. The player can recite “so what you are saying is” in their head to help stir an offer. Some players have also used So I’ll to slow down “offer suffocation.” If players in a scene are throwing out too many disconnected offers, So I’ll can be used to slow things down.
So I’ll is a good exercise to prevent offer suffocation. This exercise forces listening by rote repetition of the offer just given. When a player repeats an offer aloud before expanding on it leads to smaller advances or expansions of the return offer. Players learn to take smaller, more logical steps with their narrative.
So I’ll is not just a listening exercise, but it lends itself to smaller offers. Long complicated oratorical offers cause So I’ll to collapse. Players can learn economy of the spoken word.
So I’ll need not be limited to words. The player can respond to emotional offers or mime offers. “So what you are saying is you are sad. So I’ll comfort you.” Or “so what you are doing is using your phone. So I’ll snoop over your shoulder.”
Gimmicks
- None
Variations
- Circle – Instead of pairs the process travels around a circle
- Scenic pairs – Use this structure in an open scene.
- Yes And
Credits
None.