Searching for final monologues: 2

Play: Past curfew
Character: Kirstie
Author: Arthur M. Jolly

She's there, with her parents, and there's this guy standing next to them, watching the tigers. And the Tigers aren't moving. They're like a rug, so this guy takes his cigarette, and he flicks it at them. Lit cigarette, bounces off the momma tiger - and she like shrugs, gets up and walks away. The cigarette lands in this -- Like a clump of dried grass, which catches fire. There's a little fire, burning inside the tiger pit. And the baby tiger comes over. And he's never seen fire before. Completely fascinated. He pats at it, and swipes at it. Like a cat playing. Mom says their paws must be real thick, because he keeps batting, and playing with this burning grass. And her mom runs off to find a zoo keeper and get the cigarette guy in trouble or whatever, and my mom just watches the baby tiger trying to claw the burning grass. And finally he pounces, and tries to bite the flames. And that's when he gets burned. He leaps straight up in the air, yowling and screaming.... and goes off running to his mother. My mom loves that story, because he goes running back to his momma. That's like her go-to "I told you so" story...

It's stupid - the whole thing. The tiger should've jumped in the moat. There was water right there. He ran the wrong way. All this time, my mom missed the whole point of the story. What's your mom gonna do if your on fire? Just get in the water.

I really like this monologue and enjoyed reading it because I felt like I could relate to it. It was very simple but mysterious, it quirky but I would really consider using this as one of my contemporary speech monologues. To me it is a fascinating speech and draws the listener in. It also fits me as it sounds like a teenage girl is reading it, I love how it goes from one end of the scale dramatically back to the other so quickly. I like the change in pace and i like that we don't know what type of speech this is, it is sort of witty but also quite dark and mysterious too. I will defiantly consider this monologue as one of mine and will come to a conclusion after more research. The cons with this monologue could be that it is quite short, it doesn't entail much and it has to be fast paced in my mind for it to work how it should. Also I would have to be confident to read this monologue, it seems to me that the person reading it should be a typical teenager, short cocky sentences, taking the mic out of little things (her mothers favourite story), etc. but I do like the element of confusion in this. It tells a story without being obvious and it is intriguing. When reading this speech aloud so much physicality can be used throughout the story telling, when she says "And finally, he pounces, and tries to bite the flames." The simple sentences like this throughout make it more interesting to me than other monologues I have researched.

Play: I Am A Camera

Character: Sally Bowles
Writer: John Van Druten

You know, Chris, in some ways now I wish I'd had that kid. The last day or two, I've been sort of feeling what it would be like to be a mother. Do you know, last night I sat here for a long time by myself, and held this teddy bear in my arms, and imagined it was my baby. I felt a most marvelous sort of shut-off feeling from the rest of the world. I imagined how it would grow up, and how after I'd put it to bed at nights, I'd go out and make love to filthy old men to get money to pay for it's clothes and food. No, I wouldn't think of myself at all- just it. It must be rather wonderful never to think of yourself, only of someone else. I suppose that's what people mean by religion. Do you think I could be a nun, Chris? I really rather think I could. All pale and pious, singing sort of faint and lovely hymns all day long. (beat) I feel as though I'd lost faith in men. Even you, Christopher, if you were to go out in the street now, and be run over by a taxi, I should be sorry in a way, of course, but I shouldn't really care a damn. Oh, I didn't mean that, of course, darling, at least, not personally. You mustn't mind what I say when I'm like this. I see now why people say operations like that are wrong. They are. You know, the whole business of having children is all wrong. It's a most wonderful thing, and it ought to come from something rare, and special, and sort of privileged, instead of just... that!

I am unsure about this monologue, however I enjoy the "unsteadiness" of it. I like the risk factor in this speech, yet I think it sounds similar in tone to the other contemporary speech that I have already picked and I prefer that one to this monologue also. Another speech that I have been looking at and researching also sounds like the type of speech like this and again, I prefer the other. I do like the type of character that it entails though, I like the sort of run down, careless but cares so much person it makes out to be. This character sounds like it has a real history and I like how it has a backstory to it without saying. The speech itself is quite short but has a big impact. If I continue to research and don't enjoy reading the other speeches as this I could eventually come back to this as I do still consider it as a big option. It is very assertive and like another speech I picked, it's something that I haven't played before and could be a good challenge for me as a performer and show how versatile I am. It would prove a lot if I pulled this speech off so it is still in my top list. The only thing that I don't like about this monologue would be the lack of emotion expressed, I know that obviously that's how the character should be (quite aware of themselves and reserved, rarely shows emotion) but with the lines in this, it could easily be interpretatated to be more sad and a bigger break down than it makes out to be. I like the detail that it goes into, the emotion behind each word and the conversation it carries. It leaves the listener wanting to know more and be interested in the characters actual life. A lot of questions continue with this speech but I will continue my research and look back over it before evaluation on my final decision.