Mamet Profanity Appropriate for Auditions?

[PJ]

Posted: 7/29/04 at 9:34pm

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?

[etoile]

Posted: 7/29/04 at 9:45pm

I suggest that if YOU'RE not confortable with the language of the text you find another monologue.

[PJ]

Posted: 7/29/04 at 9:46pm

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

[MusicPos2]

Posted: 7/29/04 at 9:48pm

Call the school. Different schools will probably feel differently, but I think most would be fine with it.

[PJ]

Posted: 7/29/04 at 9:51pm

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?

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 7/29/04 at 9:54pm

Under no circumstances should you ever change a playwright's words for an audition (or anything else for that matter), without the playwright's permission. This is especially true for someone as famous as Mamet -- those judging you probably know where those F-words go in those speeches and you may actually offend them if you censor them out.

See what others think about this, but it may make sense to steer clear of monologues with too much profanity, on the off chance you get a prude who might hold it against you. Then again, I suppose it might make you stand out and actually work in your favor. I'm not sure. See what other folks think about this.

[MusicMan]

Posted: 7/29/04 at 11:03pm

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

[M J R]

Posted: 7/30/04 at 12:39am

This comes up all the time in seminars I've attended - the general concensus I think for the university level is if it just seems gratuitous, don't do it. If there are only a few (like 1 or 2) and it's vital to the storytelling, then it's more acceptable.

[broadwaystar2b]

Posted: 7/30/04 at 12:49am

"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.

[Nina]

Posted: 7/30/04 at 11:25am

I agree with Margo that you should absolutely not change anything in the monologue. The fact that you are questioning whether or not the monolgues would be appropriate should tell you something. If you are going to be concerned with the reaction to the use of profanity, it can effect your audition performance. You should always walk into an audition feeling 100% confident in what you are presenting in oreder to give your best performance.

I would suggest that, since you don't know if some prude is going to react negatively, it may be best to play it safe and chose monologues that are strong, show off your abilities yet are acceptable to anyone auditioning you. It's tough because some of the best dramatic monologues contain profanity or deal with controversial issues.

Any person auditioning actors should be open minded enough and aware enough to accept a monologue with profanity. However, you can't anticiapte who and what you will be facing. This is an important moment for you, sweetie. Don't take chances. There will be many opportunities in the future to do that.

[robbiej]

Posted: 7/30/04 at 11:32am

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.

[PJ]

Posted: 7/30/04 at 11:36am

Thanks for the advice everyone.

I think I found one in Sexual Perversity in Chicago that isn't too vulgar that I could use. I might need two, though. Soo, does anyone have any suggestions where I could find a contrasting monologue?

[robbiej]

Posted: 7/30/04 at 11:46am

Always go for a classical piece.

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

[PJ]

Posted: 7/30/04 at 11:54am

I bought Macbeth a while back. I'd use that, but my monologues must be contemporary for NYU and Carnegie Mellon.

[robbiej]

Posted: 7/30/04 at 12:00pm

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]

Posted: 7/30/04 at 12:05pm

Make sure you have an additional monologue prepared for Carnegie Mellon because I was asked to perform a third one for them.

[rclocalz]

Posted: 7/30/04 at 12:26pm

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

[PJ]

Posted: 7/30/04 at 2:19pm

Yes, both contemporary.

I'll look in to the plays by Richard Greenberg. Thanks robbiej!

[MusicMan]

Posted: 7/30/04 at 2:23pm

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.

[PJ]

Posted: 7/30/04 at 3:50pm

"Take Me Out." Any good monologues in that play?

[TheQuibbler]

Posted: 7/30/04 at 4:02pm

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

[M J R]

Posted: 7/30/04 at 10:21pm

Don't fear - but don't let it sneak up on you either - prepare!!

[rclocalz]

Posted: 7/30/04 at 11:56pm

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 :)

[TheQuibbler]

Posted: 7/31/04 at 11:34pm

Yeah, I'm gonna be a senior this coming school year and I'm terrified. I don't know where I wanna go or what the hell I wanna do with the rest of my life or how to go about doing it... It's scary! Updated On: 7/31/04 at 11:34 PM

[PJ]

Posted: 8/1/04 at 12:00am

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