You'll find this two minute audition monologue for a woman in her 30's to 40's on page 21 of "Bad Dates" the comic play by Theresa Rebeck. The monologue starts with the semi-hook "So I'm like, OK, this is just a date that's not going to work out." Instantly we the audience are a close friend hearing about the character's dating misadventures. The monologist goes on to tell us how as the guy on this hopeless date talks to her she realizes they're sort of kindred spirits and she feels sort of bad for him. They've both just recently been through breakups from long term relationships and are getting back out there.
But just as she's starting to have real sympathy for his situation he begins explaining that it was actually HE who did the breaking up even though he's all sad it had to end. Our monologist tries to figure out why he ended the relationship and all he can say is he couldn't see "the end of the movie" with the person. After "going around in circles" trying to understand what he means, she concludes that he ended a good relationship because he got an insane metaphor stuck in his head.
In terms of the ten elements of great audition monologues, this one gets solid marks for elements 1, 4 and 5. The monologist has a strong desire to make a connection, the piece has a decent hook opening that grabs our attention partly because of how relatable and natural the dialogue sounds, and it has a very good button closing because the monologue's frustration level sort of blows comically on the last line "is it possible you broke up with the woman you loved because of some insane metaphor?"
The monologue gives you varied emotions to play, a journey to go on from feeling defeated (date is going nowhere) to sympathetic (poor guy he's also recovering from a long term relationship like me) to frustrated (this idiot ended a good relationship for NO reason!).
Preview the monologue on google books here. Get the play here.
But just as she's starting to have real sympathy for his situation he begins explaining that it was actually HE who did the breaking up even though he's all sad it had to end. Our monologist tries to figure out why he ended the relationship and all he can say is he couldn't see "the end of the movie" with the person. After "going around in circles" trying to understand what he means, she concludes that he ended a good relationship because he got an insane metaphor stuck in his head.
In terms of the ten elements of great audition monologues, this one gets solid marks for elements 1, 4 and 5. The monologist has a strong desire to make a connection, the piece has a decent hook opening that grabs our attention partly because of how relatable and natural the dialogue sounds, and it has a very good button closing because the monologue's frustration level sort of blows comically on the last line "is it possible you broke up with the woman you loved because of some insane metaphor?"
The monologue gives you varied emotions to play, a journey to go on from feeling defeated (date is going nowhere) to sympathetic (poor guy he's also recovering from a long term relationship like me) to frustrated (this idiot ended a good relationship for NO reason!).
Preview the monologue on google books here. Get the play here.
RSS Feed