Great Rants in Shows
Great Rants in Shows
jdshatz2
Swing Joined: 7/18/16
#1Great Rants in Shows
Posted: 2/20/17 at 12:07am
I was wondering, what are some great RANTS that have been heard on (or off) Broadway?
For example, (SPOILER ALERT) the calm, quiet Vanya's show-stopping tirade in VANYA AND SONYA AND MASHA AND SPIKE -- "We licked postage stamps!..." The character just unleashes so much energy/stress -- and, perhaps, so does the actor. It's almost like a primal scream, but there is some real content there.
chewy5000
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/1/09
jdshatz2
Swing Joined: 7/18/16
#3Rants! (And Other Ways to Un-Twist the Tongue)
Posted: 2/21/17 at 2:33pm
Love this! But this wasn't exactly what I had in mind.
I'm looking for scripted rants/monologues, that are actually written into the show, where the character (and/or the actor) blows off steam.
WiCkEDrOcKS
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/13/04
#5Rants! (And Other Ways to Un-Twist the Tongue)
Posted: 2/21/17 at 2:52pm
Yvan's wedding invitation monologue in Art comes to mind - about two and a half full pages in the script, but the bulk of it is one sentence.
#6Rants! (And Other Ways to Un-Twist the Tongue)
Posted: 2/21/17 at 2:55pm
Gideon Glick has a pretty terrific one to Lindsay Mendez in Act Two of Significant Other.
#7Rants! (And Other Ways to Un-Twist the Tongue)
Posted: 2/21/17 at 3:34pm
Simon Stimson's "ignorance and blindness" speech from Our Town. It's not a rant in the sense that the character is hemming and hawing, but when done correctly, the anger and pain that comes across in those sentences can be absolutely chilling.
#8Rants! (And Other Ways to Un-Twist the Tongue)
Posted: 2/21/17 at 3:38pm
Valere in David Hirson's La Bête goes on uncontrollably for about 30 minutes.
KathyNYC2
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/2/10
#9Rants! (And Other Ways to Un-Twist the Tongue)
Posted: 2/21/17 at 3:40pm
John Adams has a few in 1776, as do a number of other characters at various times.
Ranger Tom
Leading Actor Joined: 7/6/14
#10Rants! (And Other Ways to Un-Twist the Tongue)
Posted: 2/21/17 at 4:29pm
"The Story of Jerry and the Dog" monologue from Albee's The Zoo Story has a solid rant near the end.
#11Rants! (And Other Ways to Un-Twist the Tongue)
Posted: 2/21/17 at 5:30pm
Emma's wonderful tirade in THE NORMAL HEART.
#12Rants! (And Other Ways to Un-Twist the Tongue)
Posted: 2/21/17 at 6:05pm
https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/BWW-TV-FENCES-on-Broadway-Video-Preview-20100426
from 9:44
Julie Yard
Stand-by Joined: 8/29/13
#13Rants! (And Other Ways to Un-Twist the Tongue)
Posted: 2/21/17 at 7:49pm
wonderfulwizard11 said: "Gideon Glick has a pretty terrific one to Lindsay Mendez in Act Two of Significant Other.
Wizard... that rant virtually knocked me out of my chair both times I saw the show. It is 1 of the most powerful moments I've seen in theater. Fabulous!
jbird5
Broadway Star Joined: 12/20/15
#14Rants! (And Other Ways to Un-Twist the Tongue)
Posted: 2/21/17 at 8:33pm
Kyra's rant about Thatcherism in David Hare's Skylight which was inevitably followed by her getting a standing ovation from a bunch of people who paid $200 and up for their seats.
#16Rants! (And Other Ways to Un-Twist the Tongue)
Posted: 2/21/17 at 9:31pm
Julie Yard said: "Wizard... that rant virtually knocked me out of my chair both times I saw the show. It is 1 of the most powerful moments I've seen in theater. Fabulous!"
I know there's still a bit of the season yet left, but I'd love to see him win a Tony for that Significant Other. He's absolutely wonderful in it- one of my favorite performances of the last few years.
yfs
Featured Actor Joined: 11/1/13
#17Rants! (And Other Ways to Un-Twist the Tongue)
Posted: 2/21/17 at 10:39pm
Pale's entrance speech BURN THIS is the greatest one I've ever heard. And listening to John Malkovich deliver it was simply astounding.
#18Rants! (And Other Ways to Un-Twist the Tongue)
Posted: 2/21/17 at 10:40pm
August Osage County had a great one at the end of one of the first two acts.
ghostlight2
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/5/04
#19Rants! (And Other Ways to Un-Twist the Tongue)
Posted: 2/22/17 at 1:02am
Mickey's monologue from The Normal Heart. always breaks mine.
I can't imagine an actor could go through that speech, especially on a stage, and not be affected by it.
Another draining monologue, though not a rant, Paul's, from A Chorus Line.
@z5
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/30/15
#20Rants! (And Other Ways to Un-Twist the Tongue)
Posted: 2/22/17 at 1:10am
Cate Blnchett is giving an excellent one in The Present- towards the second scene of act 1...the one with the vodka, the detonator, and about getting older. Was definitely an incredibly memorable speech for me.
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