2025 Blacksnake NIETOC
2025 — Pocatello, ID/US
Duo Interpretation
Event Description:
Duo Interpretation – 10 minutes with a 30-second “grace
period.” No time signals provided. Duo performance of either
emotive appeal, with selections drawn from published, printed:
novels, short stories, plays, poetry, or other printed, published
works, PDFs, e-books, as well as limited online and recorded
works as provided for in the rules below.
1. Length: The time limit in Duo Interpretation is ten minutes
with a 30-second “grace period.” If there are multiple judges
in the round, all must agree that the student has gone beyond
the grace period. Should a student go beyond the grace
period, the student may not be ranked 1st. There is no other
prescribed penalty for going over the grace period. The
ranking is up to each individual judge’s discretion. Judges
who choose to time are to use accurate (stopwatch function)
timing devices. No minimum time is mandated.
2. Performance: The presentation may not use physical objects
or costuming. During the presentation, the contestant/team
must name the author and the book or magazine from which
the cutting was made. Additionally:
a. Duo Interpretation selections must be presented from
memory.
b. In Duo Interpretation, each of the two performers may
play one or more characters so long as performance
responsibility in the cutting remains as balanced as
possible.
3. Focus: In Duo Interpretation, focus may be direct during the
introduction [the performers may look at each other] but
must be indirect [off-stage] during the performance itself.