ACCEPTING CONFORMITY

THEME: In a new environment, people sometimes go to great extremes in order to be accepted. Part of this acceptance process can involve conforming to society and losing your own identity and individuality.

SYNOPSIS: This is a mime sketch. An outsider approaches a circle of friends, eager to be accepted. They teach the outsider the dos and don'ts of their group. At first he follows their lead but later feels stifled by the strict and conforming guidelines. In the end, the outsider realizes that true friends will accept him for who he is and not require that he conform to their liking.

A CIRCLE OF ODD NUMBERED FRIENDS, ARMS ENTWINED, IS LAUGHING AND HAVING A GOOD TIME. AN OUTSIDER SEES THE GROUP AND HOPES IT CAN CURE THE LONELINESS HE FEELS. HE APPROACHES, SMILES AND GESTURES THAT HE'D LIKE TO JOIN. RELUCTANTLY THEY AGREE.

THE OUTSIDER IS EXCITED AND SENSING HIS ENTHUSIASM, THE GROUP TEACHES HIM THEIR SPECIAL HANDSHAKE. THE OUTSIDER PROVIDES AN EVEN NUMBER SO EVERYONE HAS SOMEONE TO SHAKE WITH. THE OUTSIDER SLOWLY LEARNS THE DETAILED HANDSHAKE THAT COMES AUTOMATICALLY TO THE OTHER MEMBERS. AFTER A LITTLE FRUSTRATION, THE OUTSIDER FINALLY MASTERS IT.

AFTER THIS, THE GROUP MEMBERS EXAMINE THE OUTSIDER'S CLOTHES AND DEMAND A FEW CHANGES. THEY STICK HIS SHIRT COLLAR UP. THEY TURN HIS CAP BACKWARDS AND MAKE OTHER CHANGES SO HE LOOKS MORE LIKE THEM. HE RESISTS AT FIRST, BUT GIVES UP WHEN HE SEES THE PLEASED LOOK ON THEIR FACES.

NEXT, THE GROUP BEGINS TO PRACTICE THEIR WALK AROUND THE CIRCLE. THE OUTSIDER LAUGHS AT THEIR EXAGGERATED STRUT AND PERSISTS IN WALKING NORMAL. WHEN THEY SEE THIS, THEY SURROUND HIM AND ANGRILY SHAKE FISTS AND FINGERS AT HIM. THEY DEMONSTRATE THE WALK FOR HIM AGAIN. HE TRIES IT A FEW TIMES, BUT SEEMS UNINTERESTED IN IT. HE TRIES TO CHANGE THE SUBJECT BUT THE GROUP DEMANDS THAT HE MASTER THE WALK. EVENTUALLY HE RESENTS THEIR CONFORMITY AND REFUSES TO MASTER THE WALK. HE PUTS HIS COLLAR AND CLOTHES BACK THE WAY THEY WERE AND HE LEAVES THE GROUP. THE GROUP IS ANGRY AT HIS REJECTION. HE IS SMILING AND CONFIDENT AS HE WALKS AWAY.