How much can you mess with your monologues?

[Broadway Style]

Posted: 9/4/05 at 7:36pm

Well, assuming a piece is not very well known, is it bad that I have a tendancy to mess with my monologues ie: cut some stuff, put lines from other parts of the play in etc. just to give the monologue a better arc? It's not very noticeable unless you happen to have the actual monologue memorized, but after watching hundreds of 12th graders audition today, and asking some people about it I seem to be the only one who does it? Is it something I really shouldn't do?

[CostumeMistress]

Posted: 9/5/05 at 11:17am

You really shouldn't change the content or meaning of the monologue or add things in.

Example monologue: I was a little girl growing up in rural Kansas. I was the average little girl, with blonde pigtails and bright blue eyes and a heart full of hope. I had a dog named Rover and every day we would go out in the fields to play and frolic and gather daisies. However, the summer of my third grade year, Rover began to get sick. My father took him to the doctor, but the doctor said that there was nothing that could be done for the dog. I remember this as the saddest summer of my childhood.

Okay cutting: I was a little girl growing up in rural Kansas... I had a dog named Rover and every day we would go out in the fields to play and frolic and gather daisies. However, the summer of my third grade year, Rover began to get sick... I remember this as the saddest summer of my childhood.

You've made the selection shorter without really altering the meaning and message of the passage. None of what you cut is essential, so it's okay to leave that stuff out.

NOT-okay cutting: I was a little girl growing up in rural Kansas. I was the average little girl... and every day we would go out in the fields to play and frolic and gather daisies [and chase bunnies]. However, the summer of my third grade year, Rover began to get sick. [He would cough and cough and not stop and it scared me.] My father took him to the doctor, but the doctor said that there was nothing that could be done for the dog. I remember this as the saddest summer of my childhood.

Why it's bad... who is the "we" in the second line? It's unclear. The chasing bunnies in the 4th line... WTF? Where did that come from? And who cares, anyway? What do bunnies have to do with anything? And when it says "he would cough etc.", I'm sure he did, but that's not in there and you can't just throw it in.

I hope that makes some sense. Feel free to e-mail me with any questions. I proofed and checked monologues and monologue cuts when I directed shows in high schools for people's auditions, so I've done this. And... good luck with your monologues!

[thetheatrekook]

Posted: 9/5/05 at 12:18pm

BAD. BAD BAD BAD. i try to make it a point to never EVER change a monologue (or anything for that matter.) Cutting some lines is ok, if you're trying to cut down the time or something. But adding in lines? Whether it be from other parts of the show or not, that's a big no-no. The playwright wrote it the way it is for a reason. Far be it from us to mess with that reason. And if the monologue as is isn't right for you...FIND ANOTHER ONE. in my opinion, it's rude, and basically spits on the playwright, "you're version isn't good enough...-I- could do it better." Big pet peeve of mine.

[cathyhyatt]

Posted: 9/7/05 at 10:05pm

cutting lines is perfectly okay. and I would also say if you add like conversational words like, "oh" or something...i dunno if you get but i mean. what i mean is words that you say in the midst of a conversation..you know that just end up coming out. I can't explain it hahha. But I think that's perfectly okay.

adding lines I would def. stay away from that.