The Encyclopedia of Interactive Performance

When you attribute fictional details, you are endowing.

”It’s been a while since we’ve seen you here in church, Raymond.” The spect turns to see an older man with kind eyes. The man continues, “Vito was an evil man. Now that he’s dead, God will judge him. But there’s still hope for you.” The spect shakes his head. “I don’t think so.” “God can forgive anyone, even a murderer.” The priest turns and enters the confessional. After a moment’s thought, Raymond enters the other side of the confessional. “Bless me father, for I have sinned…”

This scene could take place on a bare stage with nothing more than the spect, the inter-actor, and two chairs. The character of Raymond, the murder of Vito, the church, and the confessional can all be endowed by the inter-actor.

Endowment helps spects understand the context—who they are, where they are, and what’s going on. Early in the story, they need this information in order to play. As the story world becomes clear, spects start to generate their own details. Endowment establishes fictional details so spects can build with their own ideas.

The process of endowment is simple: Make an assumption and then behave as though it’s true. Endowment may be implied through oblique offers or communicated explicitly. The most elegant endowments combine both approaches, using the tool of oblique and clarify.

Scarlett endows the weather as being hot and muggy. She fans herself and dabs at her brow with her handkerchief. (oblique) She then remarks, “My goodness, it is unseasonably warm and moist for this time of year.” (clarify)

Here are examples of some common types of endowment.

Character – Owen endows the spect waiting at the front desk of the police office. “Arturo Escobar, you son of a bitch, I heard you were back in town. How’s life on the force in Miami?”

Location – Kumi endows the setting as a dance club. As she enters the space, Kumi speaks loudly so she can be heard, as her body pulses to the rhythm of imagined music.

Object – Aubrie endows a space work object by carefully examining it. Her eyes widen and eyebrows raise. She gently sets it down, releases her breath, and turns to the spect. “You’re right. The vase is Ming Dynasty. Early fifteenth century. How did you acquire it?”

Goal – Mr. Gorman tips his hat to the spect and endows what she wants. “Good afternoon, Madam. I’ll have your limousine brought around immediately.”

When you endow details, you define the fiction. An ordinary spect becomes an international spy. A paper-mache crown becomes a priceless artifact. An imaginary cave becomes dark and dangerous. Endowment establishes the details of the fictional world.