Big 8 Conference Tournament

2011 — WI/US

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Duo Interp

Event Description:

Purpose of the Category:
To develop skills in bringing a story to life through ensemble characterization.

Definition of the Category:
Duo Interpretation is performance that creates an atmosphere of time and place, emphasizing development ofcharacter and appropriate physical movement. Lines are spoken from memory using offstage focus.

Rules
1. From memory, two students present a single source of printed, published, quality literary material that includesany number of characters. Quality material is characterized by insights into human values, motivations,relationships, problems, and understandings and is not characterized by sentimentality, violence for its own sakeor unmotivated endings. Original material is not allowed. Adaptations should be for the purpose of continuityonly, and lines attributed to one character in the literary script may not be attributed to another character duringthe performance. The coach must bring a photocopy of the students’ original source of materials to provide to theTournament Practices and Procedures Committee, should the validity be questioned.
2. An introduction that provides the title and author and familiarizes the audience with tone and theme is required,and along with any necessary transitions, is to be presented without the use of notes. The presentation may beginwith a portion of selected material prior to the presenters’ personal introduction.
3. It is permissible for contestants to play more than one character or to present dramatic material consisting of aseries of vignettes. However, entrants should be aware that such materials or production styles are subject tocritique. Extreme fragmentation of actors into multiple roles may have a severely adverse impact on the ability todevelop a believable character portrayal during the limited time available. The performance responsibilitybetween both actors must be as balanced as possible.
4. Movements to suggest relationships, feelings, changes, ideas, moods, locales, etc., consistent with the offstagefocus of the presentation are acceptable and subject to critique. Onstage focus (direct eye contact) and physicalcontact (touching) between participants is prohibited, except in the introduction. Any sound effects and forms ofvocal music must be an integral part of the literature and incidental to the performance.
5. Costumes, props (including chairs), mechanical sound effects and lighting are not allowed.
6. Maximum time limit: 10 minutes, with an allowable 15-second grace period. There is no minimum timerequirement. Vocal music, if used, must be incidental and consist of no more than 30 seconds total. Any entryexceeding the grace period and/or the vocal music time limit may not be ranked first in the round. If all entries in a round exceed either time limit, no first rank shall be given in that round.

Criteria for Evaluation
1. The extent to which the introduction familiarized the audience with the tone and theme.
2. The extent to which the material chosen provided insights into human values, motivations, relationships,problems, and understandings. Individual judges may lower the rank due to use of profanity or vulgarity.
3. The extent to which the interpretation established and projected the motivations, emotions, and interrelationshipsof the characters through the use of vocal quality and emphasis.
4. The extent to which the interpretation established and projected the motivations, emotions, and interrelationshipsof the characters through physical expression and bodily movement.
5. The extent to which the performance constituted a well-paced, consistent and unified segment of characterizationand action.