Entrances and Exits

In this game, each player is assigned a word. If the player is offstage and their word is spoken, they enter the scene. If they’re in the scene when the word is spoken, they find a reason to leave and walk off.

Ask the audience for any suggestion to get the scene started – a location, occupation, etc. If you’re starting out, it’s probably better NOT to ask the audience for the words to use. Audience suggestions are likely to be quirky, rare words, so you may find yourself trying to work sentences around words like “xylophone” or “periphrastic”. It’s easier to assign them from a list of common words, or if you want some randomness, ask the audience to pick from a list. For advanced players, dealing with these unusual words may be part of the fun. 

Alan is assigned the word “night”, Judy is assigned “number” and Jim has been given “tiny”
Alan starts on stage, miming that he’s on the phone.

ALAN (“night”): That’s right… Sure, I can call them in the morning – yes I have the NUMBER.

He hangs up. Judy enters (having heard the word “number”).

JUDY (“number”): I think we have mice.

ALAN (“night”): Why, did you hear the patter of TINY feet?

Jim enters, after hearing “tiny”.

JIM (“tiny”): Mom, Dad – there are mice in my room. They’ve been scratching the walls all NIGHT.

ALAN (“night”): I’d better go take a look.

Alan leaves.

JIM (“tiny”): I hope he doesn’t search the drawers. There are a NUMBER of things I don’t want him to look at.

JUDY (“number”): I’ll go keep an eye on him.

Judy leaves.

And so on. When left alone, characters can talk to themselves or talk on the phone. They won’t normally say their own word, but you can do it in an emergency, or to exit the scene at the end.

Characters should show some sort of reason for leaving, but don’t make the explanation too long, or wait for permission to leave from the other characters. Just announce that you’re leaving.

Remembering who had which word can be a problem for player and audience. Bring some signs on strings, write the words on them, and hang them around each player’s neck. This makes it much easier to follow. It also helps if you emphasize the word as you say it. 

One of the gags in this game is to say a word several times in a row. “It’s nearly NIGHT. I mean, it’s not NIGHT yet, but it will be NIGHT soon.” The player assigned the word “night” moves back and forth, about to leave, then called, back, then leaving again. 

This game is also known as “In Out” and “Walkout”.

Word list

It’s helpful to have a list of common English words to use with this game. Here’s one list of words all apparently within the top 100:
big, case, child, come, day, different, find, first, give, good, great, hand, high, important, know, large, last, leave, little, long, make, man, next, number, old, other, part, person, place, point, right, same, say, small, take, thing, time, week, woman, work, world, year, young