Hello all! I have an audition next week and am struggling to find a good contemporary monologue with a hint of comedy. I have checked book shops and they only seem to have the clasics. I coudl really do with some suggestions from you kind folk! Thanks!
I've been recently working on HUSH by April De Angelis. The character is Denise. I think its a charming piece. Subtle and sweet.Its basically about a girl whos boyfriend left her. She once had a sandwich making business with him and then a cockroach infestiation started etc. I think its funny. Have a look.
What about the high-school show and tell scene about 3/4 of the way through 'The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds (can't remember who wrote it).
Or there are loads in Willy Russell's 'Educating Rita', of course.
Or the great speech in Act II of Ayckbourn's 'Absent Friends' about the woman who got married when what she really wanted to do was join the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
Or you could try Lettice's tour-guide speech at the beginning of Peter Shaffer's 'Lettice and Lovage' (I think it's Act 1 sc.1C or 1D).
The first is for a girl in her teens; the second for a woman in her 20s; the third for a woman in her 30s; the last for a woman in her 40/50s.
I absolutely love how helpful and generous everyone on here is-it's just so nice to see. 'Fraid I have no speeches to offer but break a leg with the audition!
Hey good luck with the audition.
I like doing Laura from the woman who cooked her husband it starts
"I don't like being a woman"
Let us all know how you get on
LOL
Tammy
At the moment one of my favourite playwright is Amanda Whittington she writes some very funny and touching plays with very good parts for women. So check out Amanda Whittington's website http://www.amandawhittington.com/ where you can find a synopsis of many of her plays and if you like the sound of them it's possible to purchase them via her website. Quite a few of her plays are also supplied by Amazon.
This is a more general suggestion for actors f who are Black or white and over 50 to have a look at. Last year Pentabus Theatre company commissioned seven writers to write plays about race and belonging in the countryside. I thought these seven monologues/plays were really good and I bought a copy of them from Oberon books. www.oberonbooks.com
I can't use any of them for myself but have recommended these pieces to friends half a dozen times.
A fabulous comic monologue that is subtle and seriously funny ( but not an informed funy) is the monlogue from Talking Heads by Alan Bennet- its called "Her Big Chance".
Its about a wannabe actress who deludes herself that she is playing a valuabel role in a West German motion picture when all she is doing is starring in a porn film- she tries to add characterisation and depth to her rubbing her boobs with suntan oil.She also justifies the fact that she shags the entire production team!!! Its very long and has to be cut but its perfect.
Read the section when she auditions and meets the producer at the party- If its done correctly, its a scream!!!! Very subtle and a lot is left for teh audience to deduce which is why its so great!!!!
Yes Alan Bennett Talking Heads are all very good but many of them including the one Blake mentions are done to death. I've seen them done hundreds of times and am not a director. No matter how well people do a role I think finding something new and unseen can have a lot more impact. It also shows you have an interest in theatre because you've gone to the trouble of find something new and original. It also makes for a much more interesting conversations in the audition room.
There are so many good writers out there it's not hard to find something new, and it would be good to favour some female playwrights in your choices. Amanda Whittington work is well worth reading along with April de Angelis. Also Bryony Lavery write some quality stuff though it doesn't tend to be funny.
I think maybe the thing to do is start looking for pieces when you don't need them. Rather than waiting to have an audition pending and only a day or two to prepare. A big folder full of possible audition pieces is always very useful when those auditions come along at very short notice.
Tracey is right, but I will contend that the same piece is great to see if done properly!!!!! But new pieces do usually give you a footing as no ones seen them, but also there is nothing to compare them with..its very catch 22.
PS Tracey, Im not having a go at you at all xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Well believe it or not, Im going off MT a bit- am repackaging myself to my original training as a straight actor who does musicals occasionally which is what I started as- fits my temperment and theres more chance to work.
My temperament being outspoken, intense and occasionally moody. LOL
Also good pieces are done again and again because they're just that... good pieces, Well written and inventive- Just realised I'm soooooo late in this thread. Just please avoid that awful Tuna fish one... god thats so awful- you know the one I mean??? Bleugh!
Oh yes that awful tuna fish piece. If I have to sit through someone doing that again I will vomit. Even though I have sometimes seen it done extremely well, words cannot express how much I hate that piece.
If I was a casting director and someone started doing that piece in front of me, I would just have to stop them and say "have you got something else please, I can't bear this one."
something I've recently discovered as a way to find new monologues is to go to a new writing showcase. Im performing in one this month, and saw one last month, and have seen a couple of really great pieces - and the best thing is that no will have seen them before!!! Im sure a new writer would be dead chuffed if you asked their permission to use their piece as your audition speech - well, I know I would! Check out www.standupdrama.com x
16 years ago
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