Duo Interpretation
Duo is an interpretation of a published piece that ranges from 7-10 minutes in length. Duo is unlike any of the other interpretative events because two people compete as a team. Duo is one of the most competitive events at the local, state, and national levels. Because of duo’s genre versatility, there can be dramatic, humorous, or a combination of dramatic and humorous duos. Contrary to the popular belief that humor always win, the funniest selections will not always win the first place position. The winning piece needs to leave an impression on the audience. The characters and mood of the selection is essential for a duo’s ultimate success. Therefore, a duo team must select their piece wisely. Choosing one that can be understood and is not offensive to anyone.
Most duo performers have difficulty deciding on a selection. Students have to consider the tone of a selection, the number of characters, and the possibilities that could maximize the potential of the selection. Performers must deliver a “clean” and polished interpretation by using sharp and clear transitions between the characters, present well-delivered dialogues, use appropriate facial expressions, effective gestures and movement. The performers should find a selection that fully utilizes their skills to distinguish characters and convey the mood of the piece.
Many first-year speech students choose duo as their event because they find it less intimidating to perform with another person. The ultimate success of a duo rests upon the performers’ abilities and their cooperation with each other. One may really be into performing while the other is doing it as a favor for a friend. This can cause personal problems between the two. Students often choose their friends as duo partners, however sometimes, this choice is flawed.
A judge can immediately see if the performers like their selection and are prepared to deliver their interpretation. At first, performing a duo may be “scary” but after the first performance, students will enjoy the experience of speaking and performing in public.