Take Another Look

One of my favorite drama exercises is to take a familiar object and brainstorm what that object could be. For example, when working with youth, I will hold out a wrapping paper tube and say, “What is this?”

After a few moments of silence and blank stares, someone will venture to say, “Um…it’s a wrapping paper thingy.”

Me: “No, it’s not.”

Youth: Blank stare.

Then I proceed to choke up on the tube with both hands, tap it on the ground a couple of times, and give my best Babe Ruth imitation.

Youth: “It’s a baseball bat?”

Then I use the tube to “row” around the room.

Youth: “It’s an oar!”

Me: “Yes, yes! What else can it be?!”

This is when things get crazy and fun. Those wrapping paper tubes transform into javelins, telescopes, pole vaults, swords, walking canes, batons, trumpets, shovels, golf clubs, flutes, muskets, light sabers, scepters, and a zillion others things.

In a matter of moments, my young dramatists begin seeing their world in a new light.

As writers, we tend to putter along in our everyday routines without seeing past the familiar. But when we take the time to see people and circumstances from different angles, creativity soars.

-That news anchor on the morning broadcast is professional, composed, and beautiful. Not a hair out of place. But what about when the station cuts to commercial? Does she fight to keep her composure? Did something happen this morning to break her heart? Or maybe she just found out she will be a mother and she’s fighting the giggles while reporting world events…

– The young man bagging groceries placed our canned veggies on top of our bread. On top of our bread. We struggle to see through our irritation. But wait, is he simply distracted? Did he take this job to help his parents make ends meet? Is he waiting to see if the money comes through for college? Is he planning on robbing the store later? Does he actually take pleasure in squishing people’s bread?

– Our cellphone buzzes/beeps/rings. Again. We fantasize about flushing it down the…well, you know. But wait…what if cell service disappeared? In fact, what if all modern communications ceased for a week or even longer? What if every cellphone user in the country/world received the same message at the same time from an unknown source? Um, creepy.

Over the coming days and weeks, jump in and take another look! What will you do with your wrapping paper tubes?