There are a set of “classic Higgins assignments” that I have used for over 25 years – assignments that have created a bit of history for their infamy. One of those assignments is the Alpha Play. The play came from an assignment long ago in which I asked all of my students in Plays and Playwrights to write a comedy – a play designed to make the audience laugh. We spent a great deal of time talking about the ingredients of comedy from both an acting and a playwriting experience. Then we set out to write the play – and it was DISASTEROUS. Most of the plays barely managed a chuckle form their audience. Something needed to be done.
I thought to myself that the essential ingredients of all comedy are obstacle and suffering. I began to design a writing exercise that would capture these two elements. Here are the details: I began easy.
I asked for a scene with two people pursuing a simple, tangible object. A had the object, B wanted the object, and C was unwilling to part with the object. I asked that the play take place in one setting and at one time – simple enough. Then the trick – – I asked that never in the play, never in the title, never in the stage directions – NEVER are you to use the letters “A” or “T”. This sounds easy – until you actually start choosing words – it becomes a bit of a satanic Wheel of Fortune. Students labor over this exercise, they hate this exercise, they swear at this exercise – – BUT when completed and read in front of the class it produces hilarious results! Through great suffering comes great reward –
or at least a few well deserved laughs.