What is a Monologue and How to Best Do It
Monologue is the art of producing a dramatic sketch of exemplary acting performance by an actor. It can be a long speech, a soliloquy, or a skit designed for only one actors performance. Most people consider monologues a form of soliloquy, the act of talking to oneself. When used in a play, it is more identified as a monologue, where the actor is directly speaking to his audience.
If you want to start your acting career, you can start with monologues. Most actors prefer to commence on this kind of acting job because this is where their talents are best reflected. So if you want to start acting monologues, here are some tips to follow:
1. Know what you want
Don’t be the typical jack-of-all-trades but a master of none. Before you start acting monologues, it is best that you know what kind of monologue you want to pursue.
There are many kinds of monologues available for you. You can try Shakespearean if you are more poetic, comedy if you have a good sense of humor, or dramatic if you can project intense emotions with ease. However, some actors try to perform all kinds of monologues just to show how versatile they can be as an actor.
2. Practice
To acquire skill in speaking in front of an audience, you should practice before a mirror. Try to practice skits from a previous play and see how well you can deliver the lines using your emotions and superb acting performance.
Keep in mind that you will be able to give a very satisfactory performance with your monologue if you put your heart into it.
3. Choose your skit
Choosing a skit or a speech that you will use in your monolog is, of course, your first problem. You may want to write your own monologue, using an original plot. Or perhaps, you would like to dramatize a favorite story or poem. Just be sure to ask the publishers permission to use it if you will be using a published speech or skit.
Be sure that the speech or skit you use is right for your age and skill. Remember that talky, sophisticated speeches are a poor choice for young performers. Moreover, if you aren’t into comedy, then avoid using speeches like that.
Indeed, acting monologues can be pretty difficult for first-time or amateur actors. However, these can be great stepping-stones to success because directors or producers will definitely see you as a great actor.