Audition Monologue

[happyducky]

My friend is hoping to audition for the National Youth Theatre and wants to come up with a more original monologue then Shakespeare, but needs a credible play to take the monologue from. She's 15 so obviously the character has to be viable for her age.
Any suggestions? Thanks!

[Octavius]

Molly Bloom's soliloquy from James Joyce's novel Ulysses?

or perhaps from musicals .....

http://www.musicaltheatreaudition.com/shows/1m aterials/chicago.html

Depends how long it needs to be and what effect she is looking for, drama , comedy etc.

[saxy_jag]

What about something from one of Alan Bennett's 'Talking Heads' plays. They are all monologues in any case - it would just be a matter of finding a suitable extract.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbc7/comedy/progpages/tal kingheads.shtml

You can get a BBC recording of all of them on CD.

[Quizmonkey]

I wouldn't touch James Joyce with a bargepole (whenever is Joyce done on the stage?!). Bennett's fine - but as an audition piece?? Not so sure. Far better to go for a meaty female role in some modern but classic piece (if you see what I mean!). And I wouldn't worry about the age thing - that will limit you too much.

How about one of the sisters in Dancing At Lughnasa? Or one of Nora's speeches in A Doll's House?

[Champagne]

I auditioned when I was 15 (we were made to as part of our theatre studies course to gain experience of auditions) and I chose a monologue from a Tenessee Williams play.

When I did the audition you had to recite 2 pieces. One from Shakespeare and one of your own personal choice.

I would always opt for the well known classics; Pinter, Chekhov, and the like. But something that she knows really well and feels comfortable making her own.

[Quizmonkey]

It's worth mentioning that auditions are not about learning a speech and just 'reciting' it. She needs to have read the whole play, got under the skin of the character, and then worked on the speech from a definite angle which reflects the character's experience and views at that stage in the play. Lack of understanding of the character's motives and motivation will score no points.

[gwynwen]

It is Shakespeare ( sort of, it's attributed to him and John Fletcher) but rarely done-the Gaoler's daughter from The Two Noble Kinsman. It is the right age and is funny and gentle-she is desperately in love with a guy who barely knows she's alive.

Also the girl from A Night Out by Pinter. Bit dark and bleak.

Try Margery Pinchwife from The Country Wife by Wycherley. Classical,funny and youthful.

The speech about cockroaches in Hush by Moira Buffini (can't remember the character title but the speech is very funny).

Joan La Pucelle (Joan of Arc) in Henry VI part 1-Shakespeare and totally brilliant and not done too often I imagine. Youthful and earnest and full of drama.

Please don't do Talking Heads. They were written for specific actors in mind, mostly and are very far from original material for audition. Also they are television scripts and this is a theatre audition.

Tell her good luck.

[happyducky]

thanks guys for all you're help.
the reason why i asked this question is because finding a monologue is easy, finding out about the play seems to be harder and as was said, you need to understand everything about a character before you can portray them.
thanks again for all your suggestions, i'll pass them on!!

[Golem]

Juliet from 'Romeo and Juliet'.

Right age, right sex, and with the potential to bring a fresh perspective to the role.

I know it's Shakespeare, but that's not always a bad thing!

[Peter Pedant]

Something from the Duchess of Malfi ?

[booknerd]

My daughter did a piece from Shaw's Saint Joan. If your friend is confident about accents, she could try Linda Loman from Death of a Salesman. (Although, my daughter's lack of an American accent didn't prevent her from getting her LAMDA gold).