Maj Monologues Competition Finalists

‘Maj Monologues Competition – The Finals’ is presented by the Brainbox Project, DownStairs at the Maj, His Majesty’s Theatre, 825 Hay Street, Perth. Two and a half hours of absolute hilarity, starting at 7.30 pm each evening until Saturday 26^th June, when there is the announcement of the three category winners. The prizes are Judges’ Choice Award $3,000, Australia Post Peoples’ Choice Award $1,000 and the Astrid Jackson Encouragement Award $500.

They say that everyone has book inside them, well I am not too sure about a book, but most of us have a short story. I entered last year and, with the competition’s 8 – 15 minute time limit, suddenly became aware of the need for economy of words.

So many writers are terrible at creating a natural dialogue for the characters being portrayed. The way this set of comedies could produce several very different styles of monologues was an eye opener. So irrespective of one’s writing technique, the sketches were filled with tips for the next potential WA playwright. The techniques even included tongue twisting alliteration and onomatopoeia.

If you have a desire to write a script, then what better way to have your work looked at, free of charge, by a talented group of judges from different genres. This year they included Craig Williams, Jenny McNae, Hellie Turner and Tim Schoenmakers.

It was fascinating to sit and listen to some of Perth’s leading actors, many of whom have been Equity Award nominees or winners - act out the monologues. Each night this week, all of the eight finalists’ monologues under the skilled direction of Hellie Turner, herself a Maj Monologues Competition winner, will be brought to life.

The topic this year was ‘A funny thing happened on the way to …’

The Finalists this year are:-
Chelsea Anderson-Crowe ‘A Brush with a Hood’ acted by Alison van Reeken, tells of a girl on her way home from a Tupperware party.
Nicola Bradbury ‘Don't Order the Jelly’ acted by Damon Lockwood, who is a shy boy at his art classes.
Judith Bridge ‘D'you Understand What I Mean?’ acted by Whitney Richard, shows us the Kylie Mole schoolgirls of today.
Therese Edmonds ‘Shelley Kelly's Day O'Destiny’ acted by Arielle Gray who, in Strine, tries to bring fame to her tiny wheatbelt community.
Paula L Kay ‘What's the Game, Mister Wolf?’ acted by Ben Sutton, the kindly man who visits old folks homes.
Steven Kuterescz ‘A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Theatre This Evening’ acted by Monica Main relates the stress of entering this competition.
Ian Toyne ‘The Domino Effect’ acted by the madcap writer is an off-the-planet story of a krill collector.
Heather Wilson ‘Office Gossip’ acted by Leanne Page, what happens when a little fib turns massive.

I think having one director is a very wise decision, as the competition is on the writing not the presentation. So I thoroughly enjoyed this my first visit to a Maj Monologue Final, on two levels firstly as a real fun night well presented, but also as a potential writer, you can see what works and what jars.

May I say that a few more lines of guidance on the competition application form would be welcome. Are we allowed to put stage directions? A passage of scene setting? I noticed that there were three styles employed, the straight relating of an event, a story with ‘he said –  and I said’, and one where the one actor actually played several characters.

Jacinta Radbourne’s sound and lighting gave the final touch of quality to each act.

With the cream of more than one hundred entries being performed, you are guaranteed 150 minutes of quality writing, performances and laughter.