Learning Objectives:
- Expand imagination through improvising your own ideas
- Develop physical control and hand-eye coordination
- Enjoy doing a fun, feelgood and rather crazy Drama activity
Warm-up: Figure of Eight
This exercise will prepare you for some of the physical movement we are going to do during the work today.
Stand with your palm up and try drawing a large figure eight with your hand. Now stand like a waiter, pretending to hold a tray of glasses with expensive glasses on it full of champagne. Try drawing the figure of eight again, making sure you don’t spill the drinks. Finally, move around the room getting into as many different positions as you can while keeping your tray steady. You can step over the cat, crawl under the table, anything you like!
The Scenes
Scene 1: The Meeting
Somewhere in the house
Elmer: Psst Errol!
Errol: Who’s that?
Elmer: Elmer.
Errol jumps up startled
Errol: Where’s that voice coming from?
Elmer: Keep your voice down matey. I’m down here.
Errol: W-w-w-where?
Elmer: Under the crack in the floorboards.
Errol: Yikes! A tiny person. This can’t be happening.
Elmer: Well, it is, Giant Person. Get over it!
Errol: What do you want?
Elmer: It’s not what I want, it’s what you want.
Errol: What do you mean?
Elmer: Come on matey, I heard you arguing with your parents.
Errol: So?
In the rest of this scene Elmer helps you fix the thing that was causing you to have an argument with your parent. If you are not allowed out of the house, for example, Elmer might give you a potion to help you to be tiny as well. If it’s because they think you spends too long on his phone, with your help Elmer might be able to creep into your parent’s room and whisper, ‘let your lovely son spend more time on his phone.’ Elmer’s suggestions are usually full of mischief and might end up getting you into more trouble.
Scene 2: The Deal
Somewhere else in the house. This scene takes place after Elmer has ‘helped’ you and you are still a bit annoyed. You holds your hand out with the tiny figure of Elmer on it. Follow the instructions in the video to create your own scene.
Errol: But you said you didn’t want anything form me?
Elmer: Not exactly…
Errol: You said…‘and I quote: it’s not what I want, it’s what you want.’
Elmer: That was then. Before I helped you fix your problem.
Errol: You actually think that helped?
Elmer: It could have gone worse.
Errol: Oh really! How? Oh, I see! There were strings attached!
Elmer: Wooah! Don’t drop me!
Errol: Oops! See, no strings attached!
Elmer: Ha ha! I thought we were friends.
Errol: Okay. As you you think you ‘helped me’ This better not be something bad!
In this scene you can improvise how you help Elmer. This could be anything you like from helping him reach some food, to trying to deal with the mouse that has been terrorising him. Up to you!
Scene 3: Caught (a) Version for 3 actors
Yet another place in the house. Elmer is on a table or chair talking to you:
Errol: It worked?
Elmer: Yep, thanks Errol. I can’t tell you what it means to me and the other little people?
Errol: The ‘other little people!’ You mean there are more of you?
Elmer: Yes. Didn’t I tell you?
Errol: No, you certainly didn’t! This is getting creepier! Where are they?
Elmer: Oh, under floorboards, in your cupboards, in the toilet.
Errol: IN THE TOILET?
Elmer: Yes, just the top bit. Makes a great bath.
Errol: Weird!
The door opens.
Errol: Quick! Jump in here!
Parent enters the room
Parent: Errol, who were you talking to?
Scene 3 Caught (a) Version for 2 actors
Yet another place in the house.
Errol: It worked?
Elmer: Yep, thanks Errol. I can’t tell you what it means to me and the other little people?
Errol: The ‘other little people!’ You mean there are more of you?
Elmer: Yes. Didn’t I tell you?
Errol: No, you certainly didn’t! This is getting creepier! Where are they?
Elmer: Oh, under floorboards, in your cupboards, in the toilet.
Errol: IN THE TOILET?
Elmer: Yes, just the top bit. Makes a great bath.
Errol: Weird!
The door opens.
Errol: Quick! Jump in here!
Parent enters the room
Parent: Errol, who were you talking to?
What’s that Mum? … Who was I talking to?
Perhaps you don’t get caught but hide Elmer? Or maybe Elmer drops out or comes out and sees the parent. What if the parent isn’t surprised but has known about Elmer and the little people all along.
IDEAS TO TRY
- Imagine that you are somewhere in your house thinking of a problem you are having. Maybe you have had an argument with a parent for example. Suddenly, you hear a little voice coming from somewhere. Act out your reaction and find out what the little person wants.
What if the little person has been listening to you and offers to help you sort out your problem? Then you go and try and solve it together.
Example
The Little Person knows your parents think you spend too long on your phone. They say they will help to hypnotise your parents using a small torch . You act this out, either with your parents help or by pretending they are there. Then you test the hypnotism out and it works!
2. You are celebrating your success from the last scene with the Little Person. Then they ask you for a return favour. Eventually, you agree and act this out.
Example
The Little Person asks you if you can help release their brother or sister as they are stuck in a jar, or in a high place, or in the cage of a family pet. You would then attempt to carry out the rescue.
3. After you have helped the Little People, you are talking to them when a parent walks in. You hope they haven’t noticed and try and explain what you are doing. In the end, the parent sees a Little Person.
Tips
There are no right answers. You could do these scenes lots of times with different results!
Remember the figure of 8 exercise? Keep thin in mind if you are carrying the Little Person.
You can act this out with 2-4 people. It can also be acted over the phone!