The worst type of first time poster

[FirsttheFonz]

Posted: 3/13/13 at 7:35pm

Hi all,

So here I am. The worst type of first time poster. I lurk and lurk and join when I need something (and I mean lurk. I've been reading since the old message board). Worst of all, it's to ask for audition help. I know. The worst.

Side note - I fully expect a lambasting. It's OK. I'll survive. Lecture me if you want too, I probably deserve it.

Anyway, I join because I am stuck. I'm planning to go in for a production of "RED" soon, for the role of Ken (the young one for those unfamiliar with this beautiful play). And of course, they'd like a monologue but, understandably, not from their season. So here I am, wracking my brains trying to come up with one, scouring monologue books and my entire play library, but nothing yet.

So I pose the question - the dreaded play/monologue suggestion. Any ideas from this community? Something dealing with death, or a deeply personal secret you've never told anyone, or art, or a younger man confronting an older one, or anything along the lines of RED. Oh also, for someone in their 20's.

Help a fellow out? Maybe I'll stop lurking......

[TheGingerBreadMan]

Posted: 3/13/13 at 8:33pm

This is Romeo's monologue from Act V Scene III of Romeo and Juliet. It is the one where he kills himself. I apologize for posting the whole monologue in this, I could not find a webpage that had only the monologue on it. All I could find was the entire scene. (I have won competitions with this monologue, by the way.)





For here lies Juliet, and her beauty makes
This vault a feasting presence full of light.
Death, lie thou there, by a dead man interr'd.
[Laying PARIS in the tomb]
How oft when men are at the point of death
Have they been merry! which their keepers call
A lightning before death: O, how may I
Call this a lightning? O my love! my wife!
Death, that hath suck'd the honey of thy breath,
Hath had no power yet upon thy beauty:
Thou art not conquer'd; beauty's ensign yet
Is crimson in thy lips and in thy cheeks,
And death's pale flag is not advanced there.
Tybalt, liest thou there in thy bloody sheet?
O, what more favour can I do to thee,
Than with that hand that cut thy youth in twain
To sunder his that was thine enemy?
Forgive me, cousin! Ah, dear Juliet,
Why art thou yet so fair? shall I believe
That unsubstantial death is amorous,
And that the lean abhorred monster keeps
Thee here in dark to be his paramour?
For fear of that, I still will stay with thee;
And never from this palace of dim night
Depart again: here, here will I remain
With worms that are thy chamber-maids; O, here
Will I set up my everlasting rest,
And shake the yoke of inauspicious stars
From this world-wearied flesh. Eyes, look your last!
Arms, take your last embrace! and, lips, O you
The doors of breath, seal with a righteous kiss
A dateless bargain to engrossing death!
Come, bitter conduct, come, unsavoury guide!
Thou desperate pilot, now at once run on
The dashing rocks thy sea-sick weary bark!
Here's to my love!
[Drinks]
O true apothecary!
Thy drugs are quick. Thus with a kiss I die.
[Dies]

[CalebMeyer]

Posted: 3/13/13 at 8:44pm

Unless they specifically asked for a classic monologue, I'd shy away from doing Shakespeare.

[FirsttheFonz]

Posted: 3/13/13 at 8:45pm

Thank you Gingerbread! I do love that monologue but they are looking for contemporary. But I really appreciate your reply.

[TheGingerBreadMan]

Posted: 3/13/13 at 9:45pm

Oh, ok. I'll keep looking through my stash of monologues and see if I can find you something :)

[FirsttheFonz]

Posted: 3/13/13 at 11:51pm

I have over 1400 views and only a few replies. I can not tell if that is impressive or actually makes me a jacka**. Probably the latter....

[FlowerChild67]

Posted: 3/14/13 at 12:01am

No, it doesn't make you a jack***. There are always far more views than responses, because people click, then realize they can't help! ;P
Anyway, I think that the monologue from Torch Song Trilogy where he's confronting his mother?
I'm sorry if I'm waaay off, I've never read or seen Red (I am ashamed, yes), and I'm sorry it was kind of vague.

I also feel like something from No Exit would be good, from the bits I have read of Red....
I hope I somewhat helped...

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 3/14/13 at 12:26am

I'm not a fan of LaBute or reasons to be pretty, but I think some of Tom Sadoski's monologues from the that might be appropriate to audition with for Red.

[wonderfulwizard11]

Posted: 3/14/13 at 12:29am

It's more about a confrontation than dealing with a secret, but check out Alexander in Larry Kramer's The Destiny of Me. Essentially, the character confronts his brother about being forced to get therapy for his homosexuality. It requires a small bit of cutting to make it work as a single piece, but it's pretty powerful and I think it would be effective for this role. Good luck!

[LuminousBeing]

Posted: 3/14/13 at 1:29am

The ones that pop into my head are:
--Paul's from "A Chorus Line" ("...Take care of my son")
--the "Have it Your Way" monologue from "Assassins" about Nixon ("...Whom do we trust, what can we do? We do the only thing we can do. We kill the President.")

[FishermanBob]

Posted: 3/14/13 at 1:29am

I loved RED. Saw it in L.A. with Alfred Molina and it was a powerful piece of theater.

I also just saw the amazing revival of Virginia Woolf last month and while I am not remembering something specific, there had to be a few medium to lengthy monologues George had in that play. Might be worth checking out. And again nothing specific jumping to mind but there might be something worthwhile in August, Osage County though more likely it might have been a female part that had it. Though couldn't hurt to check. It's not someone in their 20's but it might work.

Updated On: 3/14/13 at 01:29 AM

[ken8631]

Posted: 3/14/13 at 10:19am

I'm one of those who clicked, but can't help. Engineer and theatre-goer here.

Good luck though!

[Serpentstoooth2]

Posted: 3/14/13 at 10:33am

there's some great monologues in the pillowman that refer to death

[ken8631]

Posted: 3/14/13 at 10:38am

Strange, was just thinking about The Pillowman - excellent play!

[Patash]

Posted: 3/14/13 at 12:59pm

How about the monologue by the son in The House of Blue Leaves?