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