Give Me Back My Son

Players in a circle, one in the middle. The one in the middle must approach players one at a time and yell "Give me back my son!" in the over-dramatic style of Mel Gibson in the movie "Ransom." If the player on the outside of the circle laughs, then that player becomes the player in the middle.

Purpose

To practice emotional commitment, even when doing something silly. And to make your teammates laugh.

History

Pete Bosniak used to do this with his friends in Philly for fun, and he brought it to his improv team Monkeydick as a warm-up.

Links

• Chris Gethard's video tribute to this warm-up
• The original line from the movie Ransom

Note

Many people try to make this warm-up into more than it is by responding to the line, or delivering the line with another emotion. This may undercut the simple beauty of the warm-up.