Duo Interpretation

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Duo Interpretation, or oftentimes simply called Duo Interp, is an official speech event of the National Forensics League, and the National Catholic Forensics League. The event involves a pair of performers acting out a short literary piece under certain restraints, including not looking at or touching your partner, and no props. Pieces used often include published short stories, plays, or poems. Participants may cut anything out of their piece, but cannot add any dialogue.

[edit] Performance

Interpretation is highly valued in this event. Performers often twist the meanings of words for comic effect, or play on an unintentional pun. Other common ways to change the meaning of the text is to sing, dance, gesture, or simply change the tone of your voice. Hand-gestures and pantomiming are also utilized. To overcome the restriction of looking at one's partner, participants often pick a point on the wall in front them to look at, pretending it is their partner's face. Performers must convince the audience with believable facial expression that the person they are talking to is truly up against the wall.

Participants also overcome the rule against touching by creating timed movements, such as when one actor pushes straight out in front of themselves, while their partner pretends to be hit at the same time.

There is no definite time minimium but official rules say that a duo piece should be ten minutes long. Any team going over this time shall be granted a thirty second grace period. After ten minutes and thirty seconds the performers may not be awarded first place in that specific round.