Sunday, October 19, 2014

Monologue Mania Day Day # 249 by Janet S. Tiger How to Write a Monologue Oct. 19, 2014

          Welcome to Monologue Mania- one new free monologue a day
                                                                        - for a whole year!
Note: A few words about 'free' -  all these monologues are protected under copyright law and are free to read, free to perform and video as long as no money is charged. Once you charge admission or a donation, or include my work in an anthology, you need to contact me for royalty info.

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scroll down for the previous days or go to 
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     To start at the beginning - Feb. 13, - 
click here.
     For a list of the blurbs from each day,
 click here

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Monologue Mania Day  Day # 249 by Janet S. Tiger   How to Write a Monologue  Oct. 19, 2014 
      
                                                   How to Write A Monologue
                                      A monologue by Janet S. Tiger   © all rights reserved
                                                     tigerteam1@gmail.com


           (Actor enters, maybe even with a blackboard on stage.  Smiles at the audience.)

(Speaks slowly and v-e-r-rrrr-y clearly)   Welcome to my 60 second class on ......
How ....to ......Write..... a .....Monologue.

Blah.  (thinks)  Blah, blah.

Very easy.

Blah, blah, blah.

Follow the simple directions…..

Blah, blah, blah…..blah blah blah blah!


           (Goes over to the blackboard and writes and speaks the word….)

Secret.

Blah, blah, blah...Blah! 

          (Steps away from the blackboard)

Most beginnings are like the blah blah  - something about the topic and some -often- inflated information that you forget immediately.

But for now, I want you to think about that ……secret.

You know, the one that popped into your head when you heard the word - "secret" 

You see, I know something about you, something deep and dark and very shameful.....and it hurts.
Yes, I know you have a secret.....the one that no one knows .....except maybe your very best friend.  Or your mother.  Or your brother.  Well, almost no one knows...........but you know what I'm talking about......yes, you!

          (Points into the audience)

Everyone has a secret.

And people love to know other people's secrets.

It creates bonds - it shows us what humanity is - but most of all, we love secrets because we are....human!

Animals never read the NATIONAL ENQUIRER.

But we do.  Even those who don't read can't escape the news about celebrities that blankets our modern press.  Which star is dating which reality show host?  How many shoes does Lindsay Lohan own?  Did Charlie Sheen jump out of a window naked?

What does that have to do with monologues?  Everything.

A monologue is really a secret that someone is sharing with the audience.

You see, I told you...... just like the instructions on that closet you bought at IKEA – simple!

Go get yourself to a computer, or if you're old school, some paper and a pen.  That's all you need, because that secret is enough!  You see, a monologue is the most personal form of theater.  It is one person, one voice.  Your monologues will be one person’s voice – yours.

That’s it -the rest is detail.   Why is this so short?  Because I'm teaching by example - a good monologue should be short.   Some can be longer, but the goal is to keep the audience attention.   And in the world of monologues, shorter is better.  And that is the secret to the whole thing – did I say secret?  By any chance, don’t you have a secret?

I think you do.   Now you just keep thinking about that secret, because ...when you come out on this stage tomorrow.......that's what you will have to reveal... that's what you will have to bring to life!....And it better be......(relishes this) good and juicy!  (leans into this).....even if it's hard to tell...even if you don't want to....even if people laugh!..... 

           (Starts to walk off, stops, looks back...more serious)  

Even if it hurts.......

           (Exits......don't stop thinking about that secret!)


          

Janet S. Tiger    858-736-6315
Member Dramatists Guild since 1983
Playwright-in-Residence
Swedenborg Hall 2006-8
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