Options-Um Err

Synonyms

Pillars. Alexa and Google.

Introduction

In this scene the performers will turn to the audience for offers during the scene.

Description

The performers turn to the audience to get an offer randomly as the scene progresses. In the handle Um Err. The performers signal the request of an offer by turning to the audience and saying “um err” with a quizzical look on their face. Regardless of the content of the offers received the performers should strive to keep a narrative arc.

For example, consider a scene that is nicely progressing with two characters in an ox drawn cart discussing how they feel about fourier transformations. Then one of the performers turns to the audience and goes “um err” someone yells out “Goats.” The performer must incorporate goats into the scene. They may propose that only old goats talk about math troubles. Or they may say the oxen are tired and replace them with goats. It is stronger to insert the offer into the exising narrative as opposed to adding more to the scene “we are being attacked by flying zombie goats again.”

Gimmicks

• Repeat Um Err over and over.

Variations

• What Happens Next – Performers trigger audience offer by saying What happens next?
• Google and Alexa – performers call out to their artificially intelligent, in home, data collecting, privacy violating computer overlords.

Credits

• Who would you credit?