Working a Monologue Worksheet

Read the whole play it comes from in its entirety several times. 

Find out what the style and theme/s of the play are.

Fill in Approaching the Text sheet for information on Character.

PRACTICAL EXERCISES:

Get to know the text.

Find the backbone

Speed and Slow Motion runs & Repetition.

Speak the text as fast as humanly possible without loosing diction. Speak the text as slowly as possible allowing new thoughts to come in. Speak each word 3 times with different inflections from beginning to end of speech; it will open up a new world of possibilities.

Gibberish

Speak the speech in your own made up language. And/or try doing it in different languages you must not already speak. Use open vowels sounds.

Paraphrase

Paraphrase the text in your own words. Do it several times, varying it slightly every time to expand on different points.

Changing circumstances.

EG: on the bus, on the toilet, while cooking, working out, talking to a child etc. Both real and imaginary. Even if thought irrelevant to the speech’ circumstances. Often getting it wrong, highlights the actor to the right path.

Independent activity.

Find and independent physical activity to fully engage yourself with, whilst doing the speech. EG: putting make up on, hanging the washing, working out, etc. That may or may not be appropriate to the character/situation, but that will help finding new insights and stop you over thinking.

Expressionistic Movement

Physicalise the speech as if it were a piece of expressionistic modern movement/mime piece. Physicalising: emotions, sensations, intentions etc. No words spoken. But plenty of breath.

Emotional and/or Sensual “As If..” PREPARATION.

Find the required emotional state of your character before he/she speaks. Either using the characters’ previous circumstances, or using a “sense memory” of a parallel equivalent in your own life experiences. Or experiment with different pieces of music to rev you up, as music can evoke specific thoughts/emotions/moods.

When you know the text

“Bits” (Beats) workout

After beating the text, just start a movement, any movement that may come to you, and repeat it exactly over and over again then start speaking your first beat of text. After, start another movement, without thinking what or why, and repeat it exactly over and over again then start speaking your second beat of text. Continue until the end of speech. Repeat it using different movements from the first time you did it. A variation is the “Shaking”, where you stop and shake for a few seconds before continuing with the next “bit” beat/section of text.

Character Thoughts

Work out by speaking aloud and scripting what your character is thinking before and during the speech. What comes before the speech is dictated by: your inner characteristic, your intention/target, by your previous circumstances and constitutes the process by which you arrive at your “Platform Thought” (a short thought/expletive which immediately precedes your first line). What precedes every “Bit” during the speech is also dictated by your inner characteristic and/or intention/target that leads to a “Platform Thought”. Your Inner monologue voiced. It can be linked to “Shaking”, where you shake in between beats but whilst shaking, you also voice your character’s thoughts that relate to the reason why you are changing tactics/characteristics/activities and propels you onto the next beat/section of text.

Road Test

“Slip” parts (beats) or whole speech, paraphrasing slightly if needed, into a “real” everyday conversation with real people in a real situation. A very cathartic and revelatory experience.