| Top Ten Tips for Getting The Monologue | | | | contemporary monologue choose a contemporary |
| This is the question I am asked by friends, | | | | monologue. |
| strangers, students, former students and the | | | | FIVE: Contemporary doesn't mean 1950s |
| cleaning lady on a regular basis. Can I recommend | | | | anymore; it's means the 1970's to today. But my |
| a good monologue? Yes, To Be or Not To Be | | | | advice is choose something written in the last 10 |
| from Hamlet. It's a really good monologue What | | | | years. |
| the question really is, is a slightly desperate | | | | SIX: Choose something that suits your age, |
| request for direction on choosing THE monologue, | | | | gender and appearance. Make it easier for them |
| THE one that will gain you admittance to | | | | to see you as the role. Acting is no longer about |
| whatever club (drama school or the cast of a | | | | the incredible capacity for actors to transform |
| show) that you're trying to join. I don't say this to | | | | themselves into someone 50 years older; you're |
| be rude or controversial, there's no doubt that I | | | | wasting your time. |
| appreciate your distress at trying to find the right | | | | SEVEN: Want to know my best advice? ANY |
| monologue but rather than letting me choose that | | | | monologue is good. I really mean that. BUT make |
| one for you, and therefore shouldering some of | | | | sure that you understand it and make sure |
| the blame if you don't get into your club of | | | | you've read the play. Don't try to cheat, you'll only |
| choice, let me help you find a good monologue. | | | | end up getting found out. |
| ONE: There is not one monologue written that will | | | | EIGHT: Look to the Monologue Books for Ideas, |
| help you any more than any other. The panel | | | | but if you choose one from there, beware, cos |
| want to see your skills, not your literary capacity. | | | | they've probably sold hundreds of thousands of |
| Any monologue, any piece of writing can be | | | | copies of those books, so.... You'll be choosing the |
| delivered beautifully, powerfully, movingly and | | | | same as at least 50,000 other actors. If you |
| indicate to the panel that you're good. | | | | choose one from those books, make sure you |
| TWO: There are a lot of dreadful monologues on | | | | READ it! |
| the Internet, don't use them. They're on the | | | | NINE: Do not write your own. Yes, you will be |
| Internet for a reason. On the other hand, there | | | | tempted, but don't do it. The panel will not |
| are some good monologues online too, but you've | | | | appreciate it. They don't want to see your |
| got to know which ones are good. | | | | capacity for creativity; they want to know if you |
| THREE: Go to a Library or a Bookshop. Sit and | | | | can deliver a monologue effectively |
| read some monologues from the plays there. If | | | | TEN: There is no perfect monologue. You will learn |
| you can't be bothered to do this, you're not going | | | | to love a monologue based on your understanding |
| to be much of an actor anyway. | | | | of it, based on discovering all the subtleties of it. |
| FOUR: Stick to what they ask for. Whether it's | | | | By understanding it's heartbeat, the desire of the |
| Drama School or A Job, and they ask you to | | | | character and what they are doing to get what |
| prepare a monologue, that's what they want! | | | | they want, you'll learn to develop a Good |
| Don't choose a bit from a novel or a poem, they | | | | Monologue. So my final piece of advice is simple, |
| are written non-dramatically and thinking you can | | | | there aren't any good monologues; you make |
| substitute either for a monologue, well, you're | | | | them into good monologues by fully understanding |
| wrong and they will be dire. If they ask for a | | | | them and doing them well. |