The Actors Room
50 Original Monologues & Tips for Success
By Steven G. Lowe
Smashwords Edition
Copyright © 2011 by Steven G. Lowe
All Rights Reserved
Chapter 1
Range and Depth Required
Approximately 1.5 to 2-Minute Monologues
Explanation:
Monologues of this length are most commonly requested and a good piece for the actor to show both range and depth. Keeping in mind, “range” represents the variance of your ability to portray different characters; “depth” represents the intensity, strength and complexity of feeling, emotion and profundity of the character. All the same rules apply, as any great monologue must encompass relevant choices and emotional involvement, which carries the weight of the words. There’s a bit of breathing room to develop the character (mannerism, subtleties, etc.) so, have some fun… but remember to keep your choices clear and consistent without overpowering the dialogue.
Tip! Energy, energy, energy!! There are a few reliable areas where actors can go to help themselves… none more effective than energy. Use of the four energies (Face, Body, Voice and Emotion) will breathe life into the character and the moment. Being one-dimensional is boring and lifeless. A scene without energy is like a balloon without air… It has yet to reach its full ability and beauty. So, don’t be afraid to get verbally, physically and emotionally involved… risk and you will be rewarded!
No
one will ever help you the way you can help yourself
—Steven G. Lowe
“Outcast”
Hey. I’d introduce myself but you probably already know me… I’m sure you’ve seen me around. I’m pretty popular like that. I have lots of friends. We hang out everyday; we spend all kinds of quality time together. I hide but they always seem to find me… just like you. Hell, just the other day we… (face energy recognizing they don’t remember) yeah, we – you and I, were hangin out in the field at school… while all your buddies held me down and you shoved grass and dirt in my mouth. And there was the time you nearly raped me… (swallowing hard, tearing up) you took off all my clothes, beat me up and left me naked in the bathroom. You don’t remember? That one was hard to forget. Hmm… okay, then what about the time when you smeared dog crap on my clothes and told everyone in the school. That was good for a few laughs. Everyone was laughing. Remember?
I went home and contemplated suicide that night. My parents were watching TV down stairs. They thought I was talking on facebook with all of my “friends”. I love my parents… they’re just a little out of touch. Best two out of three… one more “heads” and I wouldn’t be standing here right now… not that you’d notice. Well, maybe that’s not true… what would you do for laughs? (angering) How would you feel superior or in control without me? You may think I don’t matter… but I do! I fill a very important need… a void… as long as you’re tormenting me the others are safe for another day. You still look a little confused. Maybe I should introduce myself after all… I’m “Ugly”, “Crap For Brains”, “Zit Face”, “Fat-Ass”, “Dumb-Ass”, Four-Eyes”, “Geek”, “Ginger”, “Homo”, “Retard”, “Loser”, “Loser”, loser… I’m shit.
“Here I Am”
So, here I am. You’re always asking me to let you in, to tell you how I feel. Okay, where do you want me to start? What do you want to know? You want to know that I’m angry? I am very angry. Or… or how about that I hurt? You want to know about that? I hurt so deep, that I ache… And I don’t know if it’s my anger that hurts me or if it’s my hurt that makes me so angry. Instead, I ignore it… I just ignore it. And that makes me “feel”, I feel empty and that’s the worst feeling of all.
You want me to talk? Are you sure? Because if I tell you that I’m angry and hurting and empty, what are you going to do about it? Huh? If you’re gonna ask someone to let you in… really let you in, you better be ready to handle it… because it’s not fair to make me stand here and spill out my feelings if you’re not ready to help.
“Cyber Diet”