Help with "Virginia Woolf?" monologue
Help with "Virginia Woolf?" monologue
#0Help with "Virginia Woolf?" monologue
Posted: 4/20/05 at 3:15pm
For acting class, I'm doing a monologue from "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?"; the one that ends with...
"I will fight you, young man... one hand on my scrotum, to be sure... but with my free hand I will battle you to the death."
I have read the play several times, but I am still not sure how to read it. Is he serious? Joking? Any help would be appreciated.
WOSQ
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/18/03
#1re: Help with 'Virginia Woolf?' monologue
Posted: 4/20/05 at 3:36pm
Virginia Woolf is the kind of play that needs a coach/director even if its only a third party to watch you and tell you what doesn't work even if they don't know why.
Everything is a choice. If you can make it work, then it is right. This instance is a grey area. Try it both ways and see how it feels.
Not your scrotum. You ought to know how that feels by now....
Ain't there no decency left?
WOSQ
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/18/03
#3re: Help with 'Virginia Woolf?' monologue
Posted: 4/20/05 at 4:16pm
More:
Put it on its feet. Words that seem like one thing on the page can turn into something else entirely. Sometimes the words can be deadly serious, but said in jest--and vice versa.
Juxtoppose emotions and nuance with words. A set of raised eyebrows or a snarky grin can convey as much meaning if not more than literalness.
Get your "watcher" to sit there and 'be' Nick. It will give you someone to play off of while you rehearse. Ask him for different non-verbal reactions to what you are saying and go with the results. Try things, especially way out things. You never know what can come from a ridiculous idea. That's why its called rehearsal.
One more thing. Everybody in this play is pretty drunk. Don't 'play drunk'. Watch someone who is drunk. They really spend a great deal of effort attempting to appear not drunk. The posture is a little straight. The words are a little bit over-annunciated.
This is one tough play. There so much going on, both on the surface and under it.
#4re: Help with 'Virginia Woolf?' monologue
Posted: 4/20/05 at 4:52pmHe's just kidding--half of what George says in this play he doesn't really mean.
mikewood
Broadway Star Joined: 4/7/05
#5re: Help with 'Virginia Woolf?' monologue
Posted: 4/20/05 at 5:07pmHe's talking about how Martha has emasculated him but he will fight the QB with all that he's got left... his free hand: his mind.
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