Short Form Showcase: Previously On...
Background
This game was invented by my friend, Shannen (@soffargone) during a Gigglepants practice around 2017, inspired by the “Previously On” segment of a soap opera. This is the moment at the beginning of a TV show where they recap moments from previous episodes. Since then, it’s been played often at Gigglepants, the Hideout Theatre, and probably some other places.
Setup
One player is the narrator, and the rest are in the wings.
Narrator: This is the “Previously On” segment of a long-running soap opera that doesn’t actually exist. Can I get the name of this made-up soap opera?
Get a suggestion from the audience that has multiple syllables, but not too long. Something like Dawson’s Creek or One Tree Hill.
Narrator: Every time I say, “Previously on…”, you say “[soap opera name].” Let’s practice that. Previously on…
Audience: [soap opera name]
Narrator: Great, just like that that. Previously on… (game begins)
The game consists of a series of short scenes (around three lines). The narrator sets up each one and the players act it out until they are cut off by the next “Previously on….” The narrator ends the game by saying: “And now, for this week’s episode of…” and the audience chants the name one more time.
Examples
Previously on…
…Bill and Claire find something in the attic.
…Melvin reveals a secret about the swamp!
…a blast from the past!
…Candace’s bold plan.
…the Turnip Festival is underway!
…a family meeting.
Tips
For the narrator:
Don't worry about remembering names. It’s hard to keep track of characters, so the easiest thing is to use new names every time.
Not every setup prompt needs a name. See the examples above.
Give as many specific details as you can. This makes it easier for the actors to improvise.
Keep the prompts short, and keep the scenes short. If a scene feels like it’s taking too long, it is.
Don’t give away the “tilt” in the prompt. For example, setting up a scene as “Louis and Greg are shocked” doesn't give the players much specific details and constrains them to have a specific reaction. Instead, saying “Louis and Greg explore the shipwreck” allows the players to choose how to react to it. When it comes to the emotion of the scenes, show, don’t tell.
Add some group scenes for variety. You can set these up by using words like gathering, party, or crowd. A group scene works well as the last scene of the game.
For the actors:
Jump to the action. This recap section shows all the cliffhangers from previous episodes, so we want to see moments of high tension.
Have big, emotional reactions.
Start walking on stage while the narrator is talking. If the prompt begins with, “Darla, Claude, and Zoe go to…”, then three people should already be on stage before the narrator finishes their sentence.
Look for opportunities for walk-ons. A lot of soap opera tropes involve a character walking on and revealing they are:
Still alive
Actually someone else
Doing something drastic
Look for games. Recurring characters and callbacks can work well in this game.
Keep going until the narrator cuts you off.
My Thoughts
I like the pacing of the game. The built-in editing mechanic of “Previously On” is efficient in clearing the scenes and fun for the audience. It’s a great opener for a show because it is high energy and allows the players to quickly show a range of characters.
In classes, I introduce this game when we are learning about the Tilt of the scene. This game is just a rapid-fire montage of tilts. Since playing the narrator is a little difficult, I usually take that role the first time. Then, we play it a couple more times with students who are eager to try it. They almost always want to play it in their class showcase.
Though I haven’t seen it personally, I’ve heard some people play this game as the opener for their long-form format. I think there’s a lot of potential for that. People have also suggested treating it as an actual recap and then doing an improvised narrative. To me, this seems heady and difficult, but there’s probably a way to make it work. Let me know if you’ve used this game in other fun ways.