Here are some tips for actors on how to practice a monologue:
First, select a monologue that is right for you. Try to find one that fits your age and personality. If you are a 14 year old girl, don’t do one about a 70 year old man. Ideally, look for a monologue that you can understand from your own experiences. For example, a monologue about sailing might be hard to connect to emotionally if you’ve never been on a boat.
Next, read the source. Find the play that your monologue comes from and read it to understand what is happening before and after the monologue. Work on understanding the character and monologue in the context of the entire script. Focus closely on what happens in the scene before the monologue so you know what is motivating the character to speak. If you are in a competition and need to use a published play, it is good to purchase a copy of the play the monologue comes from to take with you in case the judges ask for it.
Now, ask yourself, “who is the character?” When you read the monologue, and the play it comes from, look at the character more closely. Here are some ways to study the character:
- Make a list of 10 adjectives that describe the character.
- Imagine what an ordinary day is like for this character. Does the character wake up early or sleep in? What does the character eat for breakfast? Does the character spend a lot of time getting ready in the morning or does he/she rush out the door because they are late? Do they have friends? Are they social? What kind of job do they do? Go through an entire day with the character. You can use the full script to justify your answers or just use your imagination and make the character your own.
- If you were to cast this character in a movie version of the play, what actor would you cast? Why would you pick this actor? What performance of this actor reminds you of this character?
- Look at each line of the monologue and ask, “Why is the character saying this?” and “What emotion is he/she feeling when they say it?” Selecting different emotions for the lines can create a more dynamic performance. Identifying subtle differences in line delivery from frustrated to angry can make a difference in the overall performance. This also prevents speaking in a monotone, which some new actors struggle with.
Once you know the character, then you analyze the monologue. Break it down into parts. Find changes in tone. If you show an emotional range, it will keep it interesting. Find parts where you can show different emotions. Perhaps one part is silly and another more serious. Maybe you can show sadness in one part and anger in another. The more variety you add, the more interesting it becomes.
Now, re-read the monologue dramatically.
Then, memorize the monologue.
After memorizing the monologue, record yourself performing the monologue and review it.
Next, perform for someone you feel comfortable with and get feedback.
Now, you’re ready to perform or audition.
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For additional help, check out https://www.deceptionary.com/ftp/CharacterAnalysis.pdf
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