Understanding the Harold

[Houngan]

I've been asked to prepare a lesson on the Harold (mainly because I wanted to do the Harold), but I am finding it very difficult. I think this is largely because there are a few things I don't get.

Just to be clear, I'm not explaining it to them from scratch, we've had a workshop from a professional teacher that explained it to us. But we never really got it.

First of all, I'm starting to doubt the necessity of learning the Harold. Most long form improvisers seem to think of it as the main form of long form improvisation. Is it worth it for our group to figure out how to do a Harold?

The reason I wanted to do the Harold was because I want the group to get back into doing longform again, and the Harold seems like the canonical way to do this.

Second of all, what are the Games in between for? I think I've figured out what they are (from the workshop, Internet and "Truth in Comedy"): any bit of performance that's not a scene.

I've seen some sites explain it as a palate cleaner, but why would you need your palate cleaned? Should you use these games to explore the characters further (I used to think that this is what they were for, but several sources disagree). To explore the themes? Is it used as a kind of break between scenes, for a better flow?

One of the things we never used to do with the Harolds is improvise what the games were. Are there any good excersizes for getting into this?

 

[mullaney]

The games are an opportunity for everyone on the team to work together to create something. They also often function as a way to bind the Harold together and directly explore themes connected to the suggestion. They punctuate and divide the piece, giving it some structure. They also simply provide some variety so that every part of the Harold isn't a two person scene.

 

[mullaney]

I suggest thinking of templates for a group scene, like a press conference, family dinner, wedding ceremony, game show, operas, political rallies, etc. Practice coming up with variations on the format and using different suggestions. For instance, throw out a suggestion like "libel" or "hoarding" and then try out various templates like a game show about hoarding or wedding ceremony filled with libel.

Also, you may want to look at various short form games which do not require more than a suggestion to begin and in which everyone can participate. Once you have tried the game in a straightforward way, start trying to find spontaneous variations on the group game, as if you are making up a new short form game every time.

 

[Houngan]

I suggest thinking of templates for a group scene, like a press conference, family dinner, wedding ceremony, game show, operas, political rallies, etc. Practice coming up with variations on the format and using different suggestions. For instance, throw out a suggestion like "libel" or "hoarding" and then try out various templates like a game show about hoarding or wedding ceremony filled with libel.

I'm not sure I'm getting this. Don't you just get a scene like this?

Also, you may want to look at various short form games which do not require more than a suggestion to begin and in which everyone can participate. Once you have tried the game in a straightforward way, start trying to find spontaneous variations on the group game, as if you are making up a new short form game every time.

Yeah, I've made a list already of games that can involve many people, use only a suggestion, and are not (a series of) scene(s).

It includes:
* one word at a time
* Slideshow
* Freeze tag
* Voice mail (Where we all leave messages on someones answering machine)
* Hot Spot (+ variations)
* Ad game

 

[mikelibrarian]

Most of my longform training was by institutions and individuals who did not teach Harolds so one can certainly perform long-form improv without knowing Harold structure. Do whatever you and your students are most comfortable with.

 

[mikelibrarian]

Oops, re-read your 1st post. You already have Truth in Comedy, so I didn't need to write down the Dutch libraries that carry it.

 

[mikelibrarian]

I'm not sure I'm getting this. Don't you just get a scene like this?



Yeah, I've made a list already of games that can involve many people, use only a suggestion, and are not (a series of) scene(s).

It includes:
* one word at a time
* Slideshow
* Freeze tag
* Voice mail (Where we all leave messages on someones answering machine)
* Hot Spot (+ variations)
* Ad game

I once tried to make a longform group whose opening was a short-form game. The results were disastrous, although I still think that a more skilled group could have pulled it off.

I was once in a longform show where a game of Everyday Olympics spontaneously erupted. That did not go over well with the audience and we got stern notes from our coach.

 

[Holmes]

The most important part of Harold is the underlying structure of the beats, investing in something you've improvised and getting more in result.

The opening is an interesting exercise in stretching a suggestion to cover more ideas to play with, but it's really only useful when actually doing the opening itself as part of Harold.

The games in between beats are a nice change-up (like a commercial break in a sitcom) and allow more of a large-group collaboration, but again are only really useful for Harold itself.

One major, important note: most Harolds done in New York and Chicago and elsewhere nowadays are done with 'group games' instead of 'games' (like the short-form games you mentioned and the way it's outlined in Truth in Comedy). Doing these organic, freeform, everyone-does-the-same-thing, closely-related-to-the-suggestion mini-scenes is much different from playing a short-form game. I first learned Harold with a (sometimes pre-planned) short-form game in those slots; it's hard and confusing.

If you're trying to do something that has a specific structure to it, it's really helpful to see it. This also limits the possibilities, but helps to accomplish the task. Try to see a Harold in person or online. I'd recommend a video, but I don't think I have any up that are strict-format Harolds.

An alternative to Harold (or an introduction into longform in general) is to do a loose montage of scenes {or even to play a more scenic short-form set-up like Freeze} but with a longform idea in mind.

Try just doing a bunch of scenes but break it into thirds where the first third is starting new things, the second is going back to characters and ideas and lines and settings, and the third is about going back to stuff yet again or even merging different things together and seeing overlaps.

 

[mullaney]

I'm not sure I'm getting this. Don't you just get a scene like this?

A lot of group games are simply group scenes.

Group games like openings are difficult to learn in a vacuum. Unless you are frequently watching other groups successfully creating organic group games and openings, you will find it hard to imagine what you might do in those group game slots.

The most important thing to keep in mind is that Harold eats everything. If there is anything you can imagine doing on stage in front of people, there is probably a way to do something similar within a group game or opening. That's why I'm suggesting starting out by imitating things like game shows, ceremonies, or press conferences.

We all have a subconscious understanding about how a court room scene works because of watching movies and TV shows which feature court room scenes. So I should be able to give you a suggestion and tell you to create a courtroom scene on the fly that has something to do with the suggestion. Scenes like this are just a small sliver of the pie of group game possibilities. Learning to do group games usually starts with some simple templates and then encouraging the performers to continually push the boundaries of what a group game might look like.

When I was a Harold newbie, I watched the Family do a Harold where the group game consisted of two guys walking on stage and saying, "Who wants to play rugby?" They then pulled a dozen people onstage, including a petite woman who was declared to be the ball. Next they rampaged through the audience with the woman slung over their shoulder, knocking over tables and chairs as they went. Two other guys from the team were left on stage by themselves, watching the carnage unfold. When things quieted down, they turned to each other and started the next scene. At that point I realized that group games could be anything I can imagine and they became my favorite place to experiment in the Harold.

 

[Houngan]

Thanks everyone! This thread has given me a clearer view of what a Harold is, and the fact that I just want to do a long form, not necessarily a Harold.

I won't be responding to this thread for a few days, as I'm going to work with my group on improv for a few days, in a magical land to the east (where they don't have Internet).

Oops, re-read your 1st post. You already have Truth in Comedy, so I didn't need to write down the Dutch libraries that carry it.

I don't think there are any (otherwise I wouldn't have bought the book, at least not before reading it first).

One major, important note: most Harolds done in New York and Chicago and elsewhere nowadays are done with 'group games' instead of 'games' (like the short-form games you mentioned and the way it's outlined in Truth in Comedy). Doing these organic, freeform, everyone-does-the-same-thing, closely-related-to-the-suggestion mini-scenes is much different from playing a short-form game. I first learned Harold with a (sometimes pre-planned) short-form game in those slots; it's hard and confusing.

If you're trying to do something that has a specific structure to it, it's really helpful to see it. This also limits the possibilities, but helps to accomplish the task. Try to see a Harold in person or online. I'd recommend a video, but I don't think I have any up that are strict-format Harolds.

Maybe there should be a list of good shows, with some commentary to make it easier to see what's happening? Something for another thread.

An alternative to Harold (or an introduction into longform in general) is to do a loose montage of scenes {or even to play a more scenic short-form set-up like Freeze} but with a longform idea in mind.

Try just doing a bunch of scenes but break it into thirds where the first third is starting new things, the second is going back to characters and ideas and lines and settings, and the third is about going back to stuff yet again or even merging different things together and seeing overlaps.

I'll consider this.

 

[mike short]

The thing about the traditional strict Harold is that it gets performers into a lot of good habits that are useful in other longforms. It's a good habit to have a couple of separate scenes at the top of the show, it's a good habit to break up the variety of scenes by having a group game, it's a good habit to return to situations and do second beats. The strict Harold is often to referred to as a Training Wheels Harold because of this: once you get really good at doing them, you take the wheels off and start start doing more fun stuff with it.

 

[Holmes]

A book or website that clearly explains the Harold structure would be of great use for improvisers without access to an improv hub.

 

[Lord Hatsumi]

If you can do a great harold you can pretty much win improv.

 

[mikelibrarian]

According to Worldcat one library in the Netherlands owns Truth in Comedy. It is listed as NHL HOGESCHOOL. I don't speak Dutch, so I don't know what that means.

 

[mike short]

A book or website that clearly explains the Harold structure would be of great use for improvisers without access to an improv hub.

Or a poster:

Via Dyna Moe

 

[Houngan]

I have given the lesson, and it worked out great. We still need to work on getting the games right, but we're definitely heading in the right direction.

 

[Mr. Stampede]

Some of the things that I love best about games, that others have said in so many words above:

- They look so different from scenes, to me it opens up the possibilities of what improv can be.

- They're a place to get ideas out and build on them, and that provides fuel for the rest of the set. Sometimes you see a group run out of ideas, their scenes sort've fold in on each other. A group game refuels them.

Were you asking for an example Harold on video? Here's one from the Reckoning - this is part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fpRBSVXmcNI

 

[Houngan]

I've gone ahead and put some of the advice from here on the Harold page on the wiki - I hope no one minds.

Were you asking for an example Harold on video? Here's one from the Reckoning - this is part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fpRBSVXmcNI

Thanks. I've seen that video before, but I have a really hard time finding something resembling the Harold structure in there. I'm assuming they are not doing the beginners/strict Harold?

 

[mike short]

I can see why some parts may look confusing. The Reckoning is doing an organic opening and very organic scene edits. That first piece with them all describing the dying man, the medical student, and the stethoscope is all part of their opening. Instead of a lot of hard editing, they let most scenes sorta dissolve into one another. Their third scene does involve a lot of people, so it kinda looks like a group game. They also inject very new story elements into their second beats so it's not a complete replay of what we've seen before - instead we're expanding the world out from what we've already set up.

But, yes, they are doing a fairly strict Harold.

 

[Ryan Hitchcock]

Just found another video: This is UCBTLA Harold team Bangarang! doing a Harold.

http://www.vimeo.com/20527639

EDIT: Also here's a show from UCBTNY team Bastian: http://www.ucbcomedy.com/videos/play/7141/bastian-6-15-10-full-show