How can I intimidate, embarrass, and put someone in an awkard position?

fiveub · 28 Feb 2009 at 17:44

I am studying performance, and one of my performance group ideas is to perform something on identity, and surveillance.

Every week we have been coming up with lots of good ideas... However, we need to make the audience feel uneasy, but obviously not in a life threatening way and not to cause any long term damages to the audience!

After all it is just a performance. - But how can I intimidate, embarrass, and put people in a awkward position related to identity and surveillance?

(In my group is 4 performers, myself and three girls)

Sinque · 28 Feb 2009 at 17:45

Racism jokes with a black person in your group.

Zefan · 28 Feb 2009 at 17:48

Do your own work

At a guess, play on common insecurities.

fiveub · 28 Feb 2009 at 17:49

Sinque said:
Racism jokes with a black person in your group.

The people in my performance are all white. However, I do not think racism would go down well

shauncr91 · 28 Feb 2009 at 17:50

Magical Trevor said:
The people in my performance are all white.

RACIST

fiveub · 28 Feb 2009 at 17:50

Zefan said:
Do your own work

At a guess, play on common insecurities.

I am, I am not asking everyone to script, direct and act in my performance, I just need to further my ideas!

That is a good idea, maybe survey common insecurities, then base it around that.

megatron · 28 Feb 2009 at 17:51

Call black people presidents, and they will get mad; cause you can only say it if you are a president yourself.

Zefan · 28 Feb 2009 at 17:54

Magical Trevor said:
I am, I am not asking everyone to script, direct and act in my performance, I just need to further my ideas!

Fair one, asking a load of forum geeks probably isn't the best way to go about it though

If only you'd asked this a few months ago, I would've had loads of ideas as I was living with 3 girls doing drama

Tefal · 28 Feb 2009 at 17:56

Just have one person sit in a chair centre stage watching the audience unflinchingly for about an hour.

¬_¬

Stretch · 28 Feb 2009 at 17:56

Magical Trevor said:
I do not think racism would go down well

Is't that the whole point?

[FnG]magnolia · 28 Feb 2009 at 18:00

Tefal said:
Just have one person sit in a chair centre stage watching the audience unflinchingly for about an hour.

¬_¬

THis works surprisingly well in negotiations, apart from the centre stage part. Better if they're in the background. It causes profound unease

apeZ · 28 Feb 2009 at 18:04

Have someone acting in character, in what seems to be an innocent play.

Then get them to turn and point at someone in the audience and shout "It was you, you are the man who raped my daughter... I'm going to ******* kill you! " or words to that effect. Then have him charge at the man and assault him, until he is on the ground begging for mercy.

Then suddenly go back into character and continue the play as if nothing had happened.

Just a thought...

Sinque · 28 Feb 2009 at 18:10

apeZ said:
Have someone acting in character, in what seems to be an innocent play.

Then get them to turn and point at someone in the audience and shout "It was you, you are the man who raped my daughter... I'm going to ******* kill you! " or words to that effect. Then have him charge at the man and assault him, until he is on the ground begging for mercy.

Then suddenly go back into character and continue the play as if nothing had happened.

Just a thought...

Hahaha, that would be amazing aswell. Some good ideas here

megatron · 28 Feb 2009 at 18:11

Do a play on feminine hygene issues, maybe pretend that you are explaining it to a daughter.

Tefal · 28 Feb 2009 at 18:12

apeZ said:
Have someone acting in character, in what seems to be an innocent play.

Then get them to turn and point at someone in the audience and shout "It was you, you are the man who raped my daughter... I'm going to ******* kill you! " or words to that effect. Then have him charge at the man and assault him, until he is on the ground begging for mercy.

Then suddenly go back into character and continue the play as if nothing had happened.

Just a thought...

do this but make sure the person in the crowd is one of you lot.

mangobreeder · 28 Feb 2009 at 18:12

do Shakespeare, then have one person fluff a line, then have massive row ensue, so that ppl think it a proper row and not related to the play.

dredge up really embarressing stuff

Zefan · 28 Feb 2009 at 18:12

megatron said:
Do a play on feminine hygene issues, maybe pretend that you are explaining it to a daughter.

It also fits in perfectly with the identity and surveillance theme!

Oh wait...

Tefal said:
do this but make sure the person in the crowd is one of you lot.

Where's the fun in that :confused:

Tefal · 28 Feb 2009 at 18:13

mangobreeder said:
do Shakespeare, then have one person fluff a line, then have massive row ensue, so that ppl think it a proper row and not related to the play.

dredge up really embarressing stuff

that would be brilliant but would require very good acting skill. if it's done amateurish it would just be crap

jolie77 · 28 Feb 2009 at 18:18

arknor · 28 Feb 2009 at 18:20

have one of the performers run at the audience with a rabbit suit and jump on anyone who runs, one of the performers could be an audience member to get it started.
everyone will be thinking no not me i could be next