Mount St Mary Academy Forensics Festival
2025 — Little Rock, AR/US
HS Duo Interp
Event Description:
CRITERIA: If a rule is broken, judge should lower performer one ranking and rating.
In Duet Improvisation (IMPROV), a team of two competitors will draw three topics and choose one topic for performance. Performers will use creativity, plot development, and characterization to craft a short, original scene that tells a story and entertains. Use of stock plots, pre-scripted, or re-used material from round to round is strongly discouraged.
*Selection should have quality and aesthetic value and be appropriate for an audience of children.
*No props, costumes or makeup may be used during performance. (Only one chair may be used by the performer.)
*An introduction should be presented containing information necessary to understand story.
*Title and performers’ names should be presented in the introduction.
*Time limit, inclusive of introduction, is 7 minutes with a 30 second “grace period”. Should the performer go beyond the grace period they may not be ranked 1st. There is no timeminimum.
*Note: It is the expectation that performances are the artistic creation of the performer(s). It is plagiarism to copy a performance in detail from a video online. If there is suspicionof plagiarism, please be prepared to cite the source that was copied and consult with the tournament director. The tournament director will then consult with the coach of theperformer(s) concerning consequences, which may result in their disqualification from the tournament.
COMMENTS:
Introduction: Did it establish background information?Did it introduce both actors? Did it set the mood, scene?
Scene: Did it follow a definite storyline (beginning, middle, end)?Did the story flow without pauses? Was the content appropriate?
Delivery: Were the voice, gestures, and facial expressionsadapted to the selection? Was tempo correct? Did mime and pantomime and blocking help?
Characterization: Were the characters distinct? Were they portrayed properly? Believable?
Overall Impression: Did the speaker portraythe story and characters effectively? Was it entertaining?And/or enjoyable?
CRITERIA: (If a rule is broken, judge should lower the performer one ranking.)
*Selections should be drawn from published, printed: novels, short stories, plays, poetry, or other printed, published works as well as limited online works from the followingapproved list: https://www.speechanddebate.org/approved-websites/
*No props or costuming may be used during the performance.
*Adaptations to material may only be used for the purpose of transition. The gender stated by the author must be honored; however, a female contestant may play a male role, anda male contestant may play a female role.
*Each of the two performers may play one or more characters so long as performance responsibility in the cutting remains as balanced as possible.
*Scene must be presented from memory.
*Focus may be direct during the introduction (the performers may look at each other), but the focus must be indirect (off-stage) during the performance itself.
*An introduction should be presented containing information necessary to understand character(s) and scene. Title and author should be presented in introduction. *Time limit,inclusive of introduction, is 5 minutes with a 30 second grace period. (If the performer goes beyond the 30 second grace period, the performer may not be ranked first.) There is notime minimum.
* Note: It is the expectation that performances are the artistic creation of the performer(s). It is plagiarism to copy a performance in detail from a video online. If there is suspicionof plagiarism, please be prepared to cite the source that was copied and consult with the tournament director. The tournament director will then consult with the coach of theperformer(s) concerning consequences, which may result in their disqualification from the tournament.
COMMENTS:
Introduction: Did it establish background information?Was it appropriate for the selection? Did it set the mood?
Choice of Selection: Was it appropriate material?Did it “fit” the speakers? Was it sufficient by itself?
Delivery: Was the performer poised? Did theyuse good facial expressions, gestures, and vocal clarity?
Characterization: Were the characters distinct?Were they portrayed properly?
Overall Impression: Did the speaker portray theliterature and characters effectively? Was it entertaining?And/or enjoyable?