HUMOROUS INTERPRETATION (HI)
Time limit: 10 Minutes. The art of interpretation is an activity wherein the competitor recreates the characters in the story presented to make them seem living and real to the audience. Narrative, if included, should be vivid and animated so as to be an interesting and integral part of the story rather than just “filler” between portions of dialogue. A test of good interpretation is sharing the literature effectively. Each performer embodies a character and finds motivation in that character’s intentions. A superior performance means all these elements work together to create a presentation in which vocal skill and physical control combines to create characters that will captivate the audience. The test of good interpretation is the ability to use these factors so successfully and unobtrusively that the hearer forgets this is a contest in a created atmosphere and is carried away to the time and place of the story being unfolded.
Humorous interpretation competitors perform a selection of one or more portions of a piece up to ten minutes in lengths using a play, short story, or other published work. Humorous Interpretation is designed to test a student’s comedic skills through script analysis, delivery, timing, and character development. Competitors often use multi-character selections to tell relatable stories using humor as a device to connect with the audience. Humor is a complex human quirk, and each individual’s sense of humor is unique. Other aspects of humor, however, are more universal in nature. So, when choosing a script to interpret, it is imperative for the competitor to consider not only the humorous elements of the selection but also to keep in mind how the story itself will appeal to the audience.
Selections must be cuttings from published novels, short stories, plays, poetry or other printed, published works, PDFs, e-books, as well as limited online works. Cuttings must be from a single work of literature. The selection will be judged for its appropriateness as contest material and its suitability to the particular contestant using it.
Contestants must name the author and the book or magazine from which the cutting was made. The presentation should include an informational, relevant, enticing-in-content, and conversational-in-delivery introduction. Effective introductions enhance the presentation and are included, along with transitions, as part of the allocated time.
Competitors may portray one or multiple characters. The contestants will be evaluated on poise, quality and use of voice, inflections, emphasis, pronunciation, enunciation, physical expression, and especially the ability to interpret characters correctly and consistently.
Physical objects or costuming are not allowed during the presentation.
Changes to the script may only be used for the purpose of transition or to eliminate profane language. Transitions may be used to clarify the logical sequence of ideas. Presentation shall be from memory at all state and national qualifying tournaments. They are not to be used for the purpose of embellishing the humorous or dramatic effect of the literature.
Humorous Interp Ballot
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