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ConverseSneaker

Edit: A Shakespeare Monologue

I'm looking for a preferably not overdone, but has to be a comedic Shakespeare Monologue I could use for an upcoming audition. It needs to be right for my age(15) and it needs to be funny. This is a huge audition and stuff like Viola's ring speech or Helena's plotting to tell on Hermia love monologue is going to be hugely overdone.

I'm currently reading my shakespeare monologue site and Shakespeare plays, but I'm not as familiar with the comedies as I am the tradegies. I also live in an area where monologuges are never really needed for auditions so I wouldn't know what is good and what is not.

Please Help!
Chevstriss

I'm afraid there is no such thing.

you are looking at a finite # of monos which 1000s of auditioners explore every yr.
Cake_in_Song

I am looking for that same thing. I've found some non-overdone monologues that are great, but none of them are funny. I have like three days to find one and prepare it.
JIJane

Simon Dunmore, a British drama college teacher and freelance director has written some very useful books regarding this subject of alternative Shakespeare monologues for male and female. The books are mainly available in the UK, so I am thinking that in the US the monologues mentioned are probably not as common:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Alternative-Shakespeare-Auditions-Routledge-Paperback/dp/0878300767/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1199353754&sr=8-1

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Alternative-Shakespeare-Auditions-Routledge-Paperback/dp/0878300759/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1199353754&sr=8-2

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Alternative-Shakespeare-Auditions-Women-Costume/dp/0713652772/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1199353805&sr=1-1

http://www.amazon.co.uk/More-Alternative-Shakespeare-Auditions-Men/dp/0713663219/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1199353805&sr=1-2
ConverseSneaker

Chevstriss wrote:
I'm afraid there is no such thing.

you are looking at a finite # of monos which 1000s of auditioners explore every yr.


What f I narrowed down those auditioners to high school girls? Would that help my search any? Very Happy

Or could someone suggest a good monologue from As You Like It, Love's Labour's Lost, ect. I'm still looking at that site, but it doesn't have all of them and just reading the monologue doesn't always tell you if it is supposed to be funny or not in contex with the play.
Cake_in_Song

I'm using Phoebe from As You Like It. Hilarious monologue. At least, I think it is.
ConverseSneaker

Thanks! I'll take a look and will probably use it. Very Happy


Edit: Psssstttttt. Which monologue are you refering to? I've found two of her's already.
LaurelDP

Cake_in_Song wrote:
I'm using Phoebe from As You Like It. Hilarious monologue. At least, I think it is.


If we're thinking of the same one... LOVE IT! I've seen girls who don't understand it and play it as dramatic! It made me laugh my ass off.


All Shakespeare is mostly overdone, unless you perform from a History that isn't Richard III.

Usually just shy away from "required high school reading".

But I'm guilty because I definitely use Portia from Julius Caesar for auditions.
Cake_in_Song

ConverseSneaker wrote:
Thanks! I'll take a look and will probably use it. Very Happy


Edit: Psssstttttt. Which monologue are you refering to? I've found two of her's already.


Executioner one. Both are funny, though. Apparently overdone, but I like them.
Bagel

That's perfect advice from Laurel. And if you're using something that's popular, just make sure you have strong choices and that you really understand the text. (Of course, it should be that way with all monologues, right?)

Ones I've heard again and again:
"O hateful hands, to tear such loving words" (Julia, Two Gents)
"I left no ring with her, what means this lady" (Viola, Twelfth Night)
"Think not I love him, though I ask for him" (Phebe, As You Like It)
"Hard to seem won, but I was won, my lord" (Cressida, Troilus & Cressida)

But, I've also seen each of those done very, very well. So if you can make it your own, unless you're using it for a college audition where they tell you "for the love of the gods, not that one again" (I've seen the 1st one on those, because people usually tear paper up and throw it everywhere) you're fine.
ConverseSneaker

Laughing that monologue is brilliant!

After reading it, I went Hmmm, I can see why it is interpetred as dramatic, but that is the beauty of it. If I was to do that monologue and bring out the humor and make it funny after the auditioner has listened to other girls do it as dramatically as possible, that would probably be big bonus points for me.

Thanks for all the help and advice guys! Very Happy

P.S. what do you guys think of this performance? Skip to 2:36 for the monologue.
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