VHSL Regions 5C and 6A Forensics 2023
2023 — Midlothian, VA/US
6A Serious Duo Interpretation
Event Description:
Purpose of Contest: To encourage and increase appreciation of dramatic literature and to communicate to the audience its emotional and intellectual content with spontaneity, directness, and clarity, clearly suggesting the characters and personality of two or more persons in literature.
Contest Regulations:
1. Each duo team must present one selection chosen from a single published work. Selections from the Internet must appear on the Approved List of Online Sources. The selection may not have been written by the student or about his or her own experiences. No team may use a selection, adaptation, or cutting that either member of the duo team has used in a regional, super-regional, or state contest in a previous year. Contestant must present the same selection in each round of a given tournament.
2. Each interpreter may present one or more characters and either or both may present narration.
3. A selection must maintain the author’s intent, characters, and words as written, except for minor use in transitions, unless written permission is granted by the author or publisher for modification and/or adaptation of the published work.
4. The use of a manuscript is prohibited. 5. The performers may not have eye or physical contact with each other except during the introduction, and should focus off stage. The performers must begin their presentation from center stage and restrict their physical blocking to movement around one another, switching positions, pivoting from side to side or turning around completely. No properties or costumes are permitted. Note: with increased movement now permitted, blocking with even the appearance of eye contact is strongly discouraged.
6. The timing for this event shall be a maximum of 10 minutes, with no minimum time requirement. Adjudicators will not provide time signals, and students may not time themselves. Any entry which exceeds the established time limit by more than 30 seconds may not rank first or score highest in the round.
7. In a serious duo interpretation, the material may contain humorous tones, but the climax and resolution must be of a serious dramatic nature.
Examples of Judging Criteria
Appearance: speakers’ appearance is appropriate for competition
Poise: speakers are prepared, confident, composed
Choice of Selection: selection is appropriate, and fitting to speakers, category and audience
Organization: selection flows; editing/cutting is coherent
Eye contact: appropriate, focused
Interpretation: speakers’ interpretation is intelligible, effective, engaging, and entertaining
Communication: speakers present material effectively in a way audience can understand story, characters, and character(s) motivation; establishes mood
Articulation: speakers enunciate, pronounce words correctly, and are understandable
Projection: speakers use appropriate volume
Vocal Characterization: speakers clearly and thoughtfully create different voices/accents for characters and are consistent when transitioning between/among characters
Physical Characterization: speakers clearly and thoughtfully create and present characters by incorporating appropriate and distinct gestures, body postures, behaviors, and other relevant physicality, and are consistent when transitioning between/among characters
Pace: pacing is appropriately varied, is not too fast or too slow
Memorization: delivery is free of memorization lapses and errors
Freshness: speakers present material with an “illusion of the first time” as if it were brand new; presentation is not stale or rote
Energy: speakers present material with appropriate energy level, is not monotonous
Impact: presentation is impactful and arouses emotion in audience
Chemistry: partners complement one another stylistically and have strong rapport
Balance: each speaker is integral to the development of the presentation and is equally matched in skill