Doctor Who Is Always Dramatic, So Why Not Ask His Help for Drama Class?

LOVE

     I love the new Doctor Who show.

     I love the new Doctor Who: Adventures in Time and Space Roleplaying Game.

     I love the company that publishes the game.

     BUT, I REALLY LOVE the way the game can spice up drama class.

SOONER OR LATER

     It seems to be a short jump back and forth between acting and role playing.  It seems to be an even shorter jump from role playing to that particular wild beast that lives in the theater called IMPROV.  I have heard of more than one avid gamer either going toward or coming from the jazzy,  in-character riffing that improvisational theater is all about.

LET THE DOCTOR HELP YOUR CLASS LEAP              

     In many roleplaying games, conflicts and problems and challenges are solved by rolling dice.  The randomness adds excitement to the game.  And, in some of those games the degree to which one fails or succeeds on a roll matters and adds to the fiction.  In the Doctor Who game, the dice works in both of these ways and reminded me of the YES – AND rule  of improv but with additional responses expected of the fiction based on the roll of the dice.

POSSIBLE WHOVIAN IMPROV RESPONSES

The following responses are taken from the Doctor Who: Adventures in Time and Space game and could easily be used in a drama course that is emphasizing improvisation.

Fantastic Success=Yes – and

Good Success=Yes

Success=Yes, but

Failure=No, but

Bad Failure=No

Disastrous Failure=No, and

THE INGREDIENTS ARE THERE

     Students+Character Intentions+Dice+Prescribed Response Matrix=Interesting, spontaneous theater fun.

IF YOU WANT THEM TO BE SHARP…LARP

     What passes for drama in the classroom is often half-baked and mostly faked.  Without proper planning, classroom theater ends up as an exercise in giggling.  Perhaps classroom drama should look to gaming for a little help.  I think there is great potential in education for Live Action Role Play. These feelings were confirmed again today when I heard a story on NPR about a Percy Jackson camp that is helping to extend the interest in that particular book series and that is helping to increase kids’ knowledge of mythology.  I always say that GAMES MAKE PEOPLE WANT TO LEARN.  Check out the story.