Favourite Shakespeare Monologue...

I have to do a Shakespeare monologue for some whiz-bang arty-farty Shakespeare performance thingo in Sydney pretty soon, and I cant choose what I should do....

Whats everyones favourite female monologue from a Shakespeare play? Or even better, whats a monologue that you've done before and worked like a charm?

Awaiting replies,
Alison

It really depends what you are after. If you just want a standard piece that most people would have heard before, then go for the general Lady Macbeth/Viola/Beatrice/Gertrude speeches - however, if you are using this as an audition or an impression piece, then perhaps consider doing something a little more challenging and obscure, which is often more impressive. There are plenty of great Cleopatra speeches in 'Antony and Cleo'; and there are some lovely excerpts in Act V of 'Love's Labour's Lost'. There is a really fantastic pair of books (both males and females versions) by Simon Dunmore called 'Alternative Shakespeare Audition speeches' which taps into the lesser-known speeches, and is based on the premise that auditioners, or audiences even, might inwardly groan at seeing their fifteenth 'Fie fie unknit that threatening unkind brow', or 'I left no ring with her' for the day.

To answer your question: nobody can tell you what is the best speech for you - the plays are littered with great speeches (you can adapt scenes with two characters into monologues too with some adept editing...) and you will have to read the play in question anyway before you start working on your piece, so grab a Complete works and get into it!!

Or just try some Lady Macbeth. Whatever works for you.

Toby

Toby-

Thanks for your thoughts - I did a workshop (or two?...) with you a while back which actually re-inspired (is that a word?) me back into Shakespeare. Wow, two Shakespeare-y problems helped by Toby....Good stuff ;)

Alison -

Glad to be of help. I have discovered, especially when leading workshops in schools, that passing on my passion for Shakespearean theatre could be even more rewarding than acting it. There's nothing like saying those words!!

Best of luck for your project.

Toby