In DI, the performer chooses a single dramatic piece to perform. DIs are typically one or few simple characters. Pieces in which the speaker talks to the audience is the best.
DI is notorious for its stereotypical over-dramatic performances. The "perfect" DI can be described as one in which a pregnant gay man dying of cancer infects his lover with HIV, prompting them to leave their homes in Nazi Germany to commit suicide after years of dealing with depression. Many have this strange belief that in order to win, you must make your judges cry, or make the entire 10 minutes an endless torrent of sad sad sad. DI is simply a story that involves conflict; some might even say, drama. Remember that a little bit of comedy now and then is not only refreshing for the judges, but it also makes the dramatic parts much more effective in contrast.
Popping is a popular method competitors use to switch between characters. It is explained in further detail under HI. However, popping may seem comical and out of place in DI.
In that case, another form of switching between characters is called morphing. In morphing, people take big, slow transitions. Therefore, it requires different characters to have extreme characteristics to make the morphing effective. This contrasts the small differences popping uses to enable quick transitions. Morphing can also be used to show a change in time, such as a young character standing proud and tall, transitioning to a frail, wobbly old man in a chair.
These transitions may be hard to imagine, so please feel free to contact one of our Team Resources for help!
