How to Act a Monologue Part 6
Welcome to Part 6 of How to Act a Monologue.
Over the past 5 parts, I’ve introduced a Step by Step Guide to tackling a monologue and in this part, we’ll explore the psychological journey that you should go on beneath the words.
We’re working on Sonya’s final monologue from Chekhov’s Uncle Vanya.
We’ve thoroughly analysed the monologue, we’ve broken it down into chunks, understood the dramatic structure and made a personal connection to what Sonya is doing in the scene. Then we considered how we would direct the different chunks of the monologue and came up with a list of labels for the monologue’s 7 sections.
ENTHUSIASTICALLY ROUSE
WARMLY CONSOLE
SOLEMNLY VOW
HOPEFULLY LIFT
TENDERLY PROMISE
TIGHTLY EMBRACE
SYMPATHETICALLY REASSURE
Now we return to the Preparation Exercise described here.
We do this alone. We work through our Preparation Exercise again, but this time, we use the labels above to shape and guide what we do in our preparation exercise.
We are always trying to work from the Mindset of our Task - To get someone to put their faith in me. Remember, that this task implies that although you have no proof, you want them to really believe in you and what you have to say. That’s your Mindset for starting out. And you must presume that they don’t currently have that faith and speak out of that Mindset.
Standing alone and thinking of the person from your AS-IF/Daydream (don’t imagine they’re there, they’re not!), now speak to them out of your Mindset, except guided by each of the labels.
ENTHUSIASTICALLY ROUSE
WARMLY CONSOLE
SOLEMNLY VOW
HOPEFULLY LIFT
TENDERLY PROMISE
TIGHTLY EMBRACE
SYMPATHETICALLY REASSURE
Next take a look at the labels and look at the chunks.
Choose a size and speed for each chunk. Never label two consecutive chunks with the same size and speed. Remember you want to build to the climax. Within a single chunk you can BUILD or DIMINISH too.
SIZE = Big or Small. Nothing in between. Why? Because it’s dead.
Size is about the amount of energy you put into doing the adverb and verb in each chunk.
SPEED = Fast or Slow. Nothing in between. Why? Because it’s boring.
Speed is about the pace with which you approach each adverb and verb in each chunk.
ENTHUSIASTICALLY ROUSE (BIG (for enthusiasm) FAST (for rouse)
WARMLY CONSOLE (BIG and SLOW)
SOLEMNLY VOW (SMALL and SLOW)
HOPEFULLY LIFT (BIG and FAST)
TENDERLY PROMISE (SMALL AND SLOW)
TIGHTLY EMBRACE (BIG AND SLOW)
SYMPATHETICALLY REASSURE (SMALL AND SLOW)
Now repeat the Preparation Exercise with your chunks fully labelled with adverbs and verbs and sizes and speeds. Practise saying what you would say through the Preparation Exercise to explore the psychological journey that your character goes on with the addition of the direction provided by adverb and verbs and sizes and speeds.