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Se the scene. Label props (if used) and place role players to define the
physical situation and mood. Help relieve tension/anxiety of actors by
smiling, making physical contact, and checking for readiness.
Remember, most of the common problems in managing role plays can be avoided by
a carefully prepared and delivered introduction.
How to monitorthe role play
*Start the action. When several groups are involved, all should begin at the same
time.
* Stay.out of the line of vision of the role players. Quietly observe.
- Coach only if absolutely essential-if role player has difficulty getting
started, breaks role, etc. (Unless you are using a "stop action- role play
procedure where you have explained beforehand that you will be interrupting the
role play at various points to discuss or add information or switch roles.)
* Cut the role play. Try not be too abrupt. Don't continue too long; often the role
play will arriveata natural end point. Just a few minutes of interaction can provide
data for a long discussion, so don't overload the audience.
• Thank the role players. using realnames. This removes them from their roles and
provides a bridge to the discussion to follow.
How to process a role play
- Allow role players to comment before the audience. Between the players. allow the
person who "had the responsibility for solving the problem" to go first.
* Open discussion to audience and/or observers. Trv to trace the way the situation
and interaction developed; why the role players behiaved as they did; how it might
have gone differently to achieve a better outcome.
* Encour .a audience/observers to describe their own feelings as certain events
occurred, rather than only analyzing the behavior of the role players.
*Summarize major issues and tie these to role play purpose. (Do not evaluate the
acting ability of the role players or get stuck in their interpretation of their roles.
Rather. stay focused on what the role play contributo. s to the understandi ng of the
problem they were demonstrat.ing and/or attempting to solve.)
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