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Monologue Mania Day # 1762-1763 -1764 The Shortest by Janet S. Tiger (c) Dec. 20, 21, 22, 2018
Because the 21st is the shortest day of the year, from the archives, three monologues about the shortest - Soul Sticks, then The Shortest Monologue, and below that - The Shortest Day, Longest Night. Happy Winter Solstice!
Soul Sticks
(in honor of the Winter Solstice)
by Janet S. Tiger
© 2015 all rights reserved
tigerteam1@gmail.com
(The actor is.....any age, as long as they can bounce a ball)
I was little when I first heard about something very frightening....it was scarier than anything at Halloween, because I had just learned about my eternal soul in Sunday school....and suddenly there was the (shudders)..... soul sticks........would damnation be involved with my soul? How would it beat me with the sticks?
(Runs and crouches down at the edge of the stage)
My father found me hiding before church one day, and when he figured out what was going on, that I had misheard the word...Solstice....to his credit, he didn't laugh, he even said he thought it was a great idea!
And then.....he sat down and explained what the summer and winter solstices were.....and I was intrigued.....here were amazing things happening in the sky and I had no idea! But it was confusing....and my father could see it in my eyes.....so he looked around the closet where I had thought no one could find me and found a ball, the kind that bounced really well.
'Comere.....' and we went outside and he took the ball and dropped it on the ground....
(Illustrates with a ball)
..'watch it' and I watched as it bounced, then went up, then slowed and fell, repeating this until it stopped....
My father explained.....(as father) 'The way it works is that the ball is falling.....like the days getting shorter.....and then it hits the ground and at that very moment, it is neither dropping nor going up. That is just like the solstice.....in the winter, the days are getting shorter until.....it stops, and the days get longer......in the summer is the reverse, days get longer, then it stops, and they start to get shorter.
Right at the moment when it switches, at that exact second....it is still...but it is so fast that no one could ever see it......like the days......
And it's the same with everything....even your soul.....your soul can be having the worst time....in darkness that seems to get deeper every day.....you look out and just when you think that things will never improve, there will never be hope again, your soul hits the bottom.....and for a moment it sticks, but it's so fast, like the ball, like the days.....that you barely can tell things have changed for weeks, because the change is so small, every day, that you think nothing happened....but it did....and one day you look around and you see the sun is out, and you smile and you realize things are better......and they keep getting better, and there's more sun and more light.....like when you meet someone you love, and there's more love and more light, and then you have a baby ....and that light shines like the middle of the summer in the north....for almost the whole day.....but it never lasts......the sun never lasts, and the dark never lasts....
And if you can remember that.....each day is blessed. Because your soul knows to enjoy the sun, and not to fear the dark.....
(Turns to leave, stops, looks back)
And that's why I still love these days where the ball bounces.....where the .....soul sticks......
(Bounces the ball while exiting. Welcome back, sun!)
by Janet S. Tiger
© 2015 all rights reserved
tigerteam1@gmail.com
(The actor is.....any age, as long as they can bounce a ball)
I was little when I first heard about something very frightening....it was scarier than anything at Halloween, because I had just learned about my eternal soul in Sunday school....and suddenly there was the (shudders)..... soul sticks........would damnation be involved with my soul? How would it beat me with the sticks?
(Runs and crouches down at the edge of the stage)
My father found me hiding before church one day, and when he figured out what was going on, that I had misheard the word...Solstice....to his credit, he didn't laugh, he even said he thought it was a great idea!
And then.....he sat down and explained what the summer and winter solstices were.....and I was intrigued.....here were amazing things happening in the sky and I had no idea! But it was confusing....and my father could see it in my eyes.....so he looked around the closet where I had thought no one could find me and found a ball, the kind that bounced really well.
'Comere.....' and we went outside and he took the ball and dropped it on the ground....
(Illustrates with a ball)
..'watch it' and I watched as it bounced, then went up, then slowed and fell, repeating this until it stopped....
My father explained.....(as father) 'The way it works is that the ball is falling.....like the days getting shorter.....and then it hits the ground and at that very moment, it is neither dropping nor going up. That is just like the solstice.....in the winter, the days are getting shorter until.....it stops, and the days get longer......in the summer is the reverse, days get longer, then it stops, and they start to get shorter.
Right at the moment when it switches, at that exact second....it is still...but it is so fast that no one could ever see it......like the days......
And it's the same with everything....even your soul.....your soul can be having the worst time....in darkness that seems to get deeper every day.....you look out and just when you think that things will never improve, there will never be hope again, your soul hits the bottom.....and for a moment it sticks, but it's so fast, like the ball, like the days.....that you barely can tell things have changed for weeks, because the change is so small, every day, that you think nothing happened....but it did....and one day you look around and you see the sun is out, and you smile and you realize things are better......and they keep getting better, and there's more sun and more light.....like when you meet someone you love, and there's more love and more light, and then you have a baby ....and that light shines like the middle of the summer in the north....for almost the whole day.....but it never lasts......the sun never lasts, and the dark never lasts....
And if you can remember that.....each day is blessed. Because your soul knows to enjoy the sun, and not to fear the dark.....
(Turns to leave, stops, looks back)
And that's why I still love these days where the ball bounces.....where the .....soul sticks......
(Bounces the ball while exiting. Welcome back, sun!)
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first posted - Day # 678 by Janet S. Tiger Dec. 21, 2015
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The Shortest Monologue
The Shortest Monologue
by Janet S. Tiger
© all rights reserved
tigerteam1@gmail.com
tigerteam1@gmail.com
The shortest monologue......okay, this is a trick one- the shortest monologue.....has never been written!
(Actor runs offstage quickly, the raincoat is for protection against the audience throwing tomatoes!)
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This is for those who complain about the longer monologues - you know who you are!
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First posted - Day #1023 The Shortest Monologue (c) Dec. 1, 2016
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This is some background on two characters from the play CAREGIVERS ANONYMOUS
Shortest Day, Longest Night
A monologue by Janet S. Tiger © all rights reserved 2016
tigerteam1@gmail.com
(Jeannie, the group leader, is finishing closing up, when she suddenly stops and sits down, taking a deep breath. As she sits, Franklin enters, sees her and goes over, putting a hand on her shoulder)
FRANKLIN - When you didn't come right out, I knew something was wrong.....
FRANKLIN - It's okay, I understand.....
JEANNIE - (Slowly) It's so funny.....it's....not the first year anniversary, it's the second.....
(Franklin nods)
JEANNIE - The first year, I couldn't do anything. It was.....almost like reliving it......
FRANKLIN - Not having been through this, I can't say I understand completely, but.....it can't be easy.....
JEANNIE - Dec. 21st....the shortest day of the year......is also, the longest night.....when Adam died, he had to pick a day I couldn't forget, could he? That was just the way he was.....he proposed on Valentine's Day, and we got married on the first day of summer......but when he...when he died.....he said......(hard for her) every day will be better than this one.......as if.....he planned it! (Laughs) Planned it!
FRANKLIN - The things we remember...the things we forget.....it is funny in a way.....
JEANNIE - We're laughing all the way......
FRANKLIN - I thought I'd never forget the first time Margie forgot who I was.....but.....I did. Maybe it happens so much, I don't know.....I'm sorry about my little ditty tonight.....I hope it didn't hurt too much...
JEANNIE - Don't be silly, my friend! I love those songs! I think they're one of my favorite parts of this group!
FRANKLIN - If I'd known it was an anniversary.....
JEANNIE - Can you believe it....until just know, I didn't even connect......the first year, every single event, birthday, Christmas, anniversary of when we met.....each one was like a relived moment of intense pain, but this second year, I don't know....it's more distant, like he went to visit his brother and just hasn't come home yet......it's not that I forgot....it's more that.....it wasn't as important.....Oh, I don't know if I meant that......
FRANKLIN - Don't worry.....I'll keep your secret......
JEANNIE - I didn't even say anything tonight.......
FRANKLIN - Too busy helping the others.....
JEANNIE - Keeping busy helps me more.....
FRANKLIN - For some reason, you never seemed to be the type of person who needed to try to keep busy.....
JEANNIE - The first few days, even when you expect it, they're in a blur......I cannot even remember them. It's like when you're sick and you look back and the days are all in a jumble.....then there's all the aftermath. The funeral, the details.....and, then, you're alone, for the first time in my life, living alone. I got married at 21, and my kids are all grown....have their own families......I'd retired to take care of Adam, so it was like, I'd lost him, and my job.....what was I? I think this group helped me get through that......busy is good......good and busy.....now I don't cry as much, but.....tonight, on the longest night...somehow......it's....longer.....
(He sits with her as the lights go down)
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First posted Day #1042 Longest Night (c) Dec. 20, 2016
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* 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
Janet S. Tiger 858-736-6315 CaregiversAnon.org
Member Dramatists Guild since 1983
Playwright-in-Residence
Swedenborg Hall 2006-8
1 comment:
A bonus gift, two fir the price of one. No, that's actually 3. Love the trio...and happy soul sticks!
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