Summary
Two audience members are brought onstage and stand as “pillars” — human props who will provide random lines of dialogue on cue. Two players perform a scene. At any moment, either scene player can tap a pillar on the shoulder; the pillar says the first thing that comes to mind, and the scene player must take that line as their next line — saying it as if they’d thought of it themselves and justifying it in context. Pillars can be instructed to be wildly random or to try to be helpful; random is usually funnier. Great audience participation game.
Intro for the audience
“We need two actors on stage, and two volunteers from the audience to be our pillars. This next game is called Pillars. In this game, whenever an actor taps a pillar on the shoulder, the pillar says the first thing that comes to mind, and the actor has to use it as their very next line. (get two volunteers, then a suggestion for the scene) Let’s have a big round of applause for Pillars.”
Example
Scene players are negotiating a lease. One taps a pillar. Pillar blurts: “Seventeen sandwiches.” Player incorporates it: “I want it written into the lease — seventeen sandwiches, minimum, in the pantry at all times. Non-negotiable.” Scene continues.