Searching for final monologues: 3

Play: All's well that end's well

Character: Helena

Writer: William Shakespeare

I confess

Here on my knee before high heaven and you,

That before you, and next unto high heaven,

I love your son.

My friends were poor but honest; so's my love.

Be not offended, for it hurts not him

That he is loved of me. I follow him not

By any token of presumptuous suit,

Nor would I have him till I do deserve him;

Yet never know how that desert should be.

I know I love in vain, strive against hope;

ptious and intensible sieve

I still pour in the waters of my love

And lack not to lose still. Thus, Indian-like,

Religious in mine error, I adore

The sun that looks upon his worshipper

But knows of him no more. My dearest madam,

Let not your hate encounter with my love,

For loving where you do; but if yourself,

Whose agèd honor cites a virtuous youth,

Did ever in so true a flame of liking,

Wish chastely and love dearly, that your Dian

Was both herself and Love, O, then give pity

To her whose state is such that cannot choose

But lend and give where she is sure to lose;

That seeks not to find that her search implies,

But, riddle-like, lives sweetly where she dies.

This speech will be for my classical monologue, I feel that out of all of the classical monologues that I have researched this one has been my favourite so far. It can be interpretative in so many more ways than one, it is quite continuous for a classical monologue and it sounds like it is written by a young girl so it fits me too. It sounds sweet which is a difference to the my contemporary monologues, it shows variety and a difference in my other speeches. I also like the fact that this speech isn't really short or too long, it fits in nicely with my other speeches time wise and actually makes sense to me whereas other classical speeches that I have researched didn't. I understood this monologue straight away and this tells me that it works best for me. I like to know what's going on in my speeches and to analyse them but this monologue was easy for me, maybe it is relatable or more than the others. I like how it changes quite a lot, it firstly sounds to me like a confession like a sin has occurred but then when it moves on into the speech it sounds more like a permission ask for love. It then continues and sounds to me like a plea, then back to the sin, then in the end it sounds more like the ending of a story. I will defiantly be researching more into the understanding of this speech so that it makes complete sense to me before I start to memorise it more. I need to fully understand the speech before I make further progress to make sure that it is the correct speech for me, as it is so important for the monologues to be right for me. I will continue my research to see if I can find something else that I can relate to even more.

Play: Twlelfth night
Character: Viola
Writer: William Shakespeare

I left no ring with her. What means this lady?

Fortune forbid my outside have not charmed her.

She made good view of me; indeed, so much

That, as methought, her eyes had lost her tongue,

For she did speak in starts distractedly.

She loves me sure; the cunning of her passion

Invites me in this churlish messenger.

None of my lord's ring? Why, he sent her none.

I am the man. If it be so, as 'tis,

Poor lady, she were better love a dream.

Disguise, I see thou art a wickedness

Wherein the pregnant enemy does much.

How easy is it for the proper false

In women's waxen hearts to set their forms!

Alas, our frailty is the cause, not we,

For such as we are made of, such we be.

How will this fadge? My master loves her dearly;

And I poor monster, fond as much on him;

And she, mistaken, seems to dote on me.

What will become of this? As I am man,

My state is desperate for my master's love.

As I am woman, now alas the day!

What thriftless sighs shall poor Olivia breathe?

O Time, thou must untangle this, not I;

It is too hard a knot for me t' untie!

This is another classical monologue that I could include in my monologue performances. I like it because it is comical, it can be done with such whit and passion that it could work really strongly and I haven't chosen a comical piece yet. This could be a good option for me as I haven't yet found another comical classical piece for females so it would be very original and also very different to my other monologues. I like the speech itself and could do so much with it, I would have to do some more research into this monologue however so that I fully understand it because there are some things that I still am not 100% with. I do prefer at the minute my first chosen classical monologue because I "connected" with it a lot more than this speech, however it would be a lot more original to pick this speech. I will analyse it more then decide as there are a few words in this speech that I don't understand but for the overall feel of it I do actually like it.

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.

Searching for final monologues: 1

Play: The Vampire Monologues

Writer: Wade Bradford

Character: MORGENROTH

Thanks, Mangle, keep up the good work. William, as always, I appreciate your groveling - you've outdone yourself this evening. Slinking backwards, nice touch. Remind the others that I will be inspecting the coffins at 4am. You, the new blood. Let's have a seat, I want to take a good look at you. Grab a chair, go on, grab a chair. Let's form a semi-circle. You can get a better look at each other. Don't make eye contact with me, just yet. It's not a good idea at this time. It will just make you uncomfortable, or you might implode, one of the two. So, I suppose the first thing to do is introduce ourselves and talk about why we are here. I am Morgenroth, the owner of this mortuary. I'm also a part time florist. These orchids around you, all of the flowers on the estate, I did all of those. And I'm a full time vampire, of course. The oldest one in North America, actually. If you are wondering why I'm not gloomy and dark, or scary and over dramatic like our friend William just now, it's simply because I don't have to be. It goes without saying that I could kill each of you with the snap of a finger. I can afford to be polite. I like politeness. And if you stay on with us, you might feel that this is a school for manners rather than a breeding ground for blood suckers. And that's how it should be. I was turned thousands of years ago, in ancient Germania, around the time Rome was falling. It took me centuries to understand the value of politeness. Humility. Self-awareness of my own fraility. You see, the mythos that surrounds vampires leaves you with the impression that we are immortal. But that of course is not the case. We may not grow old. But we die. Wooden stakes through the heart. Exposure to sunlight. Beheaded, drawn, quartered, your limbs thrown into a bonfire. That doesn't sound like immortality to me. Immortality is only possible if one is invulnerable. And since I can't go for a stroll in the park on a sunny day, you'll understand why I laugh when the storybooks use the word immortal. And don't get me started on the word "sparkle." When a beam of direct sunlight shines upon your skin, believe me, you will not be sparkling. I have known, I have seen, many vampires die. True, some I have killed myself. But many... Many were friends.

I did really enjoy reading this monologue but I have decided not to use it as it isn't really "me". I have decided against it, I would say that it would be better for a male part but would be fun to do. It is very different to anything I have ever done so far and would be a challenge so however it could still be an option to take a risk which could end positive or a bad thing. I need to think about this option a lot more and research other monologues to see if any fit me any more. The pros and cons for this speech would be:

Pro's

*  Its a challenge.

*  I have never done anything like this before, it could actually work for me if I tried it.

*  It's a risk.

*  It seems very smooth and confident throughout the whole approach.

*  It's quite "weird and wonderful", it's a very captivating and interesting speech.

Cons

*  Could be a negative risk, I might not fit the character.

*  If not spoke confidently and so smoothly it would change the whole emotion and feelings from it.

*  If lines are missed out it might not make sense.

I will research some more then make a final decision but for now I won't be using this monologue.

Play: Our town

Character: Emily Webb

Writer: Unknown

(softly, more in wonder than in grief)I can't bear it. They're so young and beautiful. Why did they ever have to get old? Mama, I'm here. I'm grown up. I love you all, everything. - I cant look at everything hard enough. (pause, talking to her mother who does not hear her. She speaks with mounting urgency) Oh, Mama, just look at me one minute as though you really saw me. Mama, fourteen years have gone by. I'm dead. You're a grandmother, Mama. I married George Gibbs, Mama. Wally's dead, too. Mama, his appendix burst on a camping trip to North Conway. We felt just terrible about it - don't you remember? But, just for a moment now we're all together. Mama, just for a moment we're happy. Let's look at one another. (pause, looking desperate because she has received no answer. She speaks in a loud voice, forcing herself to not look at her mother) I can't. I can't go on. It goes so fast. We don't have time to look at one another. (she breaks down sobbing, she looks around) I didn't realize. All that was going on in life and we never noticed. Take me back - up the hill -  to my grave. But first: Wait! One more look. Good-by, Good-by, world. Good-by, Grover's Corners? Mama and Papa. Good-bye to clocks ticking? and Mama's sunflowers. And food and coffee. And new-ironed dresses and hot baths? and sleeping and waking up. Oh, earth, you're too wonderful for anybody to realize you. (she asks abruptly through her tears) Do any human beings ever realize life while they live it? - every, every minute? (she sighs) I'm ready to go back. I should have listened to you. That's all human beings are! Just blind people.

This is one of my favourite speeches that I have read throughout my research so far. The emotion makes it for me and how much it can be played on. It is also so different to the other contemporary piece that I want to perform, showing variety in my performance. It ends so dramatically and has so many pauses that adds to the emphasis of the seriousness of this speech. The stage directions will also help so it's not boring just standing in hysterics, I like the movement when delivering a speech because I think there is so much you can do whilst talking even in day to day it's more natural to move your hands when describing things, etc. However I would change "mama" to mum because this makes more sense to me and would allow it to flow more naturally too. This will make it a lot easier for me to read it out by changing this one small thing and I know that it will sound a lot bette. Obviously to use this speech and perform it I will really need to commit myself to the monologue, it needs a lot of energy and emotion to pull it off. It can't just be read in a sad voice, if I am doing this speech I will go for it. I think it will be a challenge but if I get it right it could sound great! I believe that I can deliver this speech as well as I possibly can and I won't speed through it, it will take a lot of time and effort but should be moving to watch and give a connection to the audience in some way by its feeling and even just some of the words. It should be simply captivating and grab the audiences attention from the start, it's a bold speech.