These games all have some sort of limitation at work- the players must play out the scene, but one or more of them can’t do this, or can’t say that- or, in some cases, the players can only work within a certain parameter… Oh, you get the idea.  Just read the game descriptions.

The ABC Game / Alphabet Soup

(2-3 players)

Players act out a scene based on a suggestion from the audience, starting with a line that starts with a predetermined letter.  Each subsequent line must begin with the letter of the alphabet that follows its predecessor.  For example, “Sally, did you see my glasses?”  “They’re in the kitchen.”  “Under the sink?”  “Very good, dear.”   and so on. 

Blind Scene

(2 players)

Fairly simple premise, but usually more fun to watch: Two players are given a suggested scene and must play it out, but they must do so blindfolded.

Entrances and Exits

(3-4 players)

Three to four players play out a scene, but each of them is given a signal word, like “stop,” or “right,” or “present.”  Whenever each player’s signal word is said during the scene, he/she must either exit the scene or enter it, depending on whether he/she is on/off stage.  Furthermore, he/she must always justify why he/she is leaving or entering the scene!

Half Life / 60-30-15

(2 players)

Two players recreate a popular fairy tale or movie plot in about 90 seconds to 2 minutes.  They must then play the same scene in half the time, then in half that time, and half that time, and so on. 

Moving People / Human Puppets

(2 players)

Two players are chosen for a scene.  They must play the scene based on a suggestion from the audience, but the catch is- they cannot move any parts of their bodies on their own!  Two audience volunteers are chosen to physically move each of their bodies for them during the scene. 

Number of Words

(3-4 players)

Three or four players are chosen to play a scene.  Usually they recreate a familiar story, like a fairy tale or a movie plot.  The trick is, each player’s lines may only consist of a certain number of words.  For instance, Player A can only speak in 3 word lines, Player B, 2 words, and Player C, 7 words. 

Questions / Questions Only

(all players)

Players must play a scene based on a suggestion of the audience, but they may only speak in questions.

Two Lines

(3 players)

Three players play a scene, but two of the players can each speak only two lines.  These four lines, split among the two, are usually somewhat vague, for they must be the only lines uttered by those actors.  The third player can play normally to keep the scene together.