Show Games!

Weekend at Bernie's

This is a game performed by 4 players based on the 1989 comedy film "Weekend at Bernie's". Like all scene games, Weekend at Bernie's begins with the ref asking the audience for a suggestion for the scene. Then, the players would perform a 1-3 minute scene based on that suggestion. After the ref calls "Scene!", the players line up side by side in front of the audience, who votes for which player they want to see "die". The players then replay the same scene as before, but the player who "died" must play dead. The remaining players have to move the "corpse" of the dead player, saying their lines for them and mimicking all of their actions. When the scene ends, a second player is killed. Then, the remaining player(s) have to move both dead players as the scene is replayed again. If there are four players, then a third player is killed off, leaving only one surviving player to replay the scene and drag around three "corpses."


Kubrick

This game is inspired by the famously strict director Kubrick. It is played with 4-5 players. One player is “Kubrick” and is the director while the other players begin while playing a scene. Kubrick at any time can interrupt this scene and scold the actors for not reading the script, forgetting their accent, forgetting that this scene was a musical, or any other crazy trait they want to add to the players for that scene in the movie. Kubrick must describe the next scene to the players, and choose anytime when to cut the movie.

Town Hall

A group of players line up and are split into two even groups. The ref asks the audience for the name of a town that has never existed, and after receiving the name they ask for a problem this town is having. One group is for the topic and the other is against it. One person, the host, stays on the stage. The players spread out into the crowd after grabbing a costume from the prop bin. The players then take on characters and interact with audience members, taking turns stating a story and trying to persuade the audience to their side. The host eventually calls the players down to the stage and has the audience clap for a vote for either side they want to win.

Pick Up Line/Blindline

Blindline is a scene game performed by 3 players. Before the game begins, every player would have to leave the room so that they could not see or hear what is happening on stage. The ref would then ask the audience for "lines". The audience is asked for phrases such as famous movie quotes, commercial jingles, or something a husband always hears from his wife. The Jolly Pranksters who are not playing the game write down each phrase on pieces of paper. When there are about 10 lines, the pieces of paper are folded and spread across the stage. Then, the three players return to the room. They perform a scene based on an audience suggestion like any other scene game. However, during the scene, a player may pick up one of the pieces of paper and read what it says aloud. Besides phrases, the blind lines may contain an accent for the player to assume or an item that the player must somehow incorporate into the scene.

Double-Blind Freeze

This is an all-player game, typically taking place at the end of the show, where all players line up with their backs facing the audience and the scene, at the very back of the playing field. Two players start by doing a scene, and the ref at random will call “Freeze!” All the other players throw their hands up and say “Freeze!” The two players in the middle of the line then turn to face the audience and take the places of the other players. Players once finished with their scene must go back into the line, shuffling themselves so they are not with the same person twice.


Oscar-Winning Moment

This game is played with 3-4 players. All players perform a normal scene based on an audience suggestion. At any time, the ref can say “Oscar Winning Moment!” and then repeat a line any of the players say. Then, all other players freeze and the one player steps forward. Music is played while this player goes on a monologue elaborating on the line that was said until the music stops.