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Are You Performing Your Monologues Right?
Drama school is challenging. And one of the most challenging things you’ll ever do is perform a monologue in class. At an actual audition – it’s the only thing that will help determine your skills. While attending school, it is likely that your teacher will have you delve deep into a character and go far beyond that of just simply reading the monologue. You’ll be expected to select the right monologue for your performance in addition to researching it. In addition, you’ll be expected to develop your own character and to perform your selection with utmost confidence.
How to Choose the Proper Monologue
Have you received any special instructions for your performance? If yes, be sure to follow them. If necessary, speak to your teacher or instructor and get additional help. Here’s a quick tip: if you’re going to audition, try to get some coaching. It’ll help you better prepare.
Does your instructor want you to perform a specific type of monologue? If so, what kind? Classical monologues? Dramatic monologue? Funny monologues? Use the search box on Actor Point to find monologues from all genres.
Monologues come in different packaging – so to speak:
Published Plays: Is there a play you’ve seen or read where a specific monologue scene stood out to you? If so, use it. Then, find more just like that one.
Movie Monologues: Movie monologues may not be very interesting to some classroom teachers. Still, others just won’t care. Just be sure to ask.
Books About Monologues: You’ll find plenty of books that are entirely dedicated to monologues. Although you’ll find that some monologue books are geared towards more grounded actors; there are others that cater to the younger crowd and complete newbies. Not to mention that there are books out there containing only what are categorized as “original pieces”.
These aren’t part of published or complete plays. Short stories are usually what are told with these monologues. It’s ok to use these monologues if you like. There are instructors, however, who will insist you use monologues from a published play for research purposes.
Websites: The “Information Super Highway” has many web sites and resources you can tap into for free monologues. Just visit Yahoo!, Google, or Bing and search for “monologues”.
Software Applications: This seems very interesting. There’s a tool called the Monologues Manager that allows you to build your own searchable collection of monologues.
Do Your Research
With your monologue selected, you’re now ready to do any necessary research. What you want to do is become more familiar with the monologue. This can easily be accomplished by watching or reading the play where you got monologue. If, by chance, you got your monologue from an unpublished work, you can try doing your research on the net. And if you know who the author is – you can also try contacting her (or him). Lastly, you can gain some further insight about the play by reading any reviews, critiques, or analyses about it.
Get Into the Character’s Head
When performing your monologue, your first thought may be to copy the performance of the actor who played the character. However, that’s not how you should go. Believe me. You’re better off just acting how you’d normally act for a character role. Own the character. Make him or hers yours – and yours only.
To develop your own character consider the circumstances the character is in and gain insight into his or her mind. Ask yourself the following questions:
What’s the character’s personality?
What is his or her background?
What are the character’s flaws?
What challenges is the character facing?
What makes the character happy or afraid?
Answering question like these will help you gain insight into the character.
Step Up Confidently
Everything you’ve done before this was just preparations. The following tips will actually help you perform better:
Make a commitment to memorize your monologue! You’ll be surprised how quickly you’ll forget it when you’re standing in front of people.
Be careful not to underplay or overplay your monologue. Monologue overplay happens when you give the piece too much voice or energy. Underplaying a monologue means you’re giving it too little energy or voice. Remember to rehearse the correct amount of voice and energy for each character you’ll be portraying. If playing a man who is grieving because he’s just lost his family in an horrible accident; you’ll probably be found guilty of underplaying your lines if you decide to whisper them.
Practice enunciating your words. This includes allowing for any accents and slang language. The more you practice this, the more convincing you’ll be as the character.
‘Daisies in Green’ Nail Art for Sarabeth’s Earth Day Contest — Nail Category: Flora