I found this to be a very interesting thread.

https://www.reddit.com/r/improv/comments/1klrzb5/improv_teacher_of_20_years_and_working_actor_here

How to handle a scene partner you don't gel with:

This happens all the time in improv (and improv auditions for commercials that I've been in.) In one commercial audition I had a partner that was so Type A he literally COVERED my mouth and told me 'don't talk I got this' - so what was I to do? We were supposed to be a husband and wife watching a basketball game - I think it was for chips or something.

So what do you do in that situation?

He told me 'don't talk - shhhhh shhhh - I got this' - so ok. I won't talk. What can you do that follows his rules of don't talk? So I started miming like 'gimme your chips!'. The casting director fell out of their chair laughing.

That is the beauty of Yes And. It's water. It's going according to the rocks that are placed in front of you and eventually wearing them down.

If your partner is alpha, try playing the 'yes and' so beautifully that you take that scene and help it reach the stars. The best improvisers in the world make their partner look so good - but the audience knows that the stronger improviser is doing all the smarter work.

So much of the time my type A students are control freaks. They're dying to control the scene. They yell or shout or do the classic 'i'm the teacher and you're the student' or 'i'm the mom do what i say' or 'i'm the drill instructor do what i say" but behind all of that is FEAR - fear of loss of control and that's why we suggest you stay away from teacher scenes in the beginning. So in the long run - be water. Work that yes and around all the rocks and make them look like a star and you will look like a superstar.

One partner - I don't know why - just did NOT like me. I don't know what I did. So let me see if memory serves me well.

She was very angry as the scene started like "Why the hell are you here!??" as it started out so I decided to play the opposite of her (think Disney type of happy) so I yes-anded and said something along the lines of "Because you're my favorite roommate and I love you!" and no matter what we did in that scene she was really coming for me trying to take me out but i just kept yes anding it with joy and love - I remember her finally saying "Do you want to die!!!" and in disney mode I was like "of course because then i'll be reincarnated! (something like that) and it got a huge laugh - there really is nothing you can do but yes and the crap out of the scene the best way you can and roll with it. I didn't realize it had made an impression but then a few days at a deli I ran into a kid from the class and he quoted the scene line by line so again all you can do is just yes and like a mofo and explore and heighten that yes anding to your best ability.