The Monologue

What Is A Monologue? A monologue is a long speech that expresses the thoughts or feelings of one character.

What are the characteristics of a monologue? A monologue should have a beginning, middle and an end. A monologue should always reveal something – be it a story, a secret, an answer to a question, or an emotional outpouring. A monologue offers insight into the character.

MONOLOGUE In theatre, the monologue can be a great gift. It's a gift to the audience to look up on that stage and see inside the thoughts of a human being. For the great monologues are private moments, secrets, emotions, heartbreaks, wonders.

The Need to Speak In every monologue a character must need to speak. In every monologue you write, you must determine the need for the character to speak. What drives the character? What is the character’s motivation?

A successful monologue Memorized – should be second nature; line difficulty will interfere with your focus and believability of character Believability of Character – be in character before you get on stage Stage business – silence is okay; movement must have purpose; with or without props, story and delivery has to be good Tech: lighting – spotlight; dim lights; music cues; curtains Costumes and props – help you to “get into” character. Vocal dynamics – use expression and project your voice

Memorization Tips Read the piece numerous times. Re-write it on a separate piece of paper! Say a line aloud and repeat it over and over again Repeat this step three times adding a new line each time. Begin adding tone/inflection/etc. to your voice (note it on the script). Keep practicing!

Inanimate Object Monologue   Choose an object and give it a voice. Is it happy? Unhappy? What are its dreams, hopes, and fears? What does it want? What is its past and what does it hope for the future? Write a monologue for this object – imagine it is speaking. What would it say?

Example: (soda can) How could you just use me like this? I thought we had something together. I thought I meant something to you. When you chose me, I was so excited. ME, you picked me out of everyone else. I was a little worried about leaving home, even though it was always, always cold in there, but I just knew that together we would have the most exciting and fabulous life. I gave up everything for you. And you --- you just threw me away. You used me up, and threw me away. Was this all I meant to you? Was I just some … container to you? Nothing more? You could at least have put me in the recycling bin.