Mamet Profanity Appropriate for Auditions?

I recently picked up "Glengary Glen Ross" and "Sexual Perversity in Chicago." If you've ever read these two pieces, you'd know that they are chalked full of profanity and the "f bomb."

My question is this: Would it be considered bad taste and poor judgement to use the monologues as is, with the vulgur words, at a college audition? I don't want to come off the wrong way in front of the admissions people. What do any of you suggest? I thought about maybe skipping the words, specifically the big, bad "F" word, seeing as how I imagine a few hell, ****s, or damns would be okay. Or is that wrong as well?

I am comfortable w/ the profanity. It's the admissions people I don't want to be uncomfortable by me using it.

Thank you, MusicPos2. I will probably have to do that to be sure. I'm using the monologue(s) for NYU, Carnegie Mellon, Point Park, Marymount Manhattan, and possible Juilliard. Of all those listed, I'd say NYU would most likely be okay with it. Wouldn't you say?

Unless you are specifically auditioning for a Mamet piece (or something similarly edgy), I would avoid profanity in a audition, particularly for a college audition. It sends out mixed messages and raises questions about the actor (not only in terms of poor taste and questionable judgement but social maladaptation as well). Given the bounty of material available to the performer, why choose something that reflects negatively on oneself?

Updated On: 7/29/04 at 11:03 PM

"those judging you probably know where those F-words go"
I remember at the Thespian state competion, the winners for Best in Show Duet did "Tango: Maureen", but took out the 2 f-words in the song to avoid an astrick rating. Although the two kids were undoubtably talented, when they performed it at the Best in Show final performance, in front of easily 10,000 teenagers (the majority of which were probably Rentheads) and the lyrics which included profanity came up with "G-rated" editting, the audience first collectively gasped and several the second time around actually booed.
Personally, I'd say either do the monologues the way they were written or choose others. Someone is bound to notice and will most likely be more focussed on the omissions than your actually performance.

I would also suggest using something more 'age appropriate' (although SEXUAL PERVISITY may actually be just that.)

Remember two things:

1. They are looking for potential, not a fully trained Shakespearean actor. Don't choose something so far afield from yourself just to show how 'good' you are, which leads me to...

2. Know thyself. Show them that you understand yourself. Who you are. It goes a very long way.

That's not to say you can't do anything that's a bit of a stretch, just be somewhat realistic about it.

---

Always go for a classical piece.

If you are choosing Mamet, go for something soft and lyrical.

---

Both contemporary?

Huh...fascinating.

Look at Richard Greenberg's stuff...stunning and lyrical.

PS Never hurts to have a classical monologue (or two) in your arsenal.

---

Updated On: 7/30/04 at 12:00 PM

JC14 is definitley right. The rule of thumb that I have always been told is to keep 5 different monologues in your back pocket (not litterally, but fresh in your mind) because when you get there, you might see that another monologue is appropriate for the audition and you can just whip it out. Sometimes directors will ask for another monologue if they don't see exactly what they want, but think you have the chops. In my "Auditioning" class our final was to have 50 contemporary monologues, 10 classical, and 5 songs in our auditioning folder. We had to memorize 10 of the monologues and the director randomly chooses two to perform for the class.

The same also has to go for auditioning for musicals. In an audition I had just a couple of weeks ago, I had to prepare two contrasting songs. I received a call back which was the very next day and they asked for two other contrasting songs (memorized of course). Lucky enough I had two songs that I already had prepared. The point is that you should prepare more than what was asked for just to have a little cushin. They asked for two songs, and instead I had to perform 4.

---

Updated On: 7/30/04 at 12:26 PM

You most certainly can change a monologue, not in terms of rewriting but in terms of editing. In fact, there are very few monologues that don't require some kind of deletions or elision for reasons of length, clarity or coherence, especially in time-constrained situations.

Wow, this thread is making me fear applying for colleges.

I second that MJR. Boy did I procrastinate my college auditions. Luckily, a college with a great program saw potential in me even though my audition sucked :)

---

I found an excellent monologue from "Death of a Salesman" today.