Here are some monologues you may use if you’d like. You can choose one of the selections below, or any type of
comedic or dramatic speech or poem that you want. (Look at plays, movies, Shel Silverstein, etc.) You should
choose a piece that shows a character you can ACT and PERFORM. In most cases, it doesn’t matter if it’s written
for a boy or girl – anyone can use the speech.
SELECTION ONE
EMILY from OUR HEARTS
SELECTION TWO
Mrs. DRUDGE from INSPECTOR HOUND
Oh, Cornelia - it’s much worse than that. Cornelia ... I killed a
man. The man that fell overboard. I killed him. I was on deck
and all of a sudden there was a splash and a lot of commotion.
Somebody shouted, “Man overboard!” So I ran to the rail like
everybody else. I could see him down in the dark water,
splashing and swimming. Oh, he looked so pathetic - clawing
in the water and kicking in his stocking feet. Then I
remembered what they told me in lifesaving class. Throw a
buoyant object to the person who is drowning. But I couldn’t
find a buoyant object. What I found was a deck chair. Oh it
was horrible. You should have heard the crack when I threw it
at his head. And then there was just the chair bobbing around
in the water - and no man.
(Into the phone) Hello...Yes this is the drawing room of
Lady Muldoon’s country residence one morning in early
spring? ... Hello!...Whom did you wish to speak to?...
I am afraid there is no one of that name here sir. This is all
very mysterious and I am sure this is leading up to
something, I hope nothing is amiss for we, that is Lady
Muldoon and her houseguests are here cut off from the world
including Magnus, The wheelchair ridden half brother of her
ladyship’s husband Lord Albert Muldoon, who ten years ago
went out for a walk on the cliffs and was never seen again.
Should a stranger enter our midst, which I very much doubt,
I will tell him you called. Goodbye.
SELECTION THREE
STELLAH from VOICES 2006
You know that time, when you are lying in bed, just before
you open your eyes? Just for a few seconds you’re not really
“you” yet. That is the most magical time of the day. When
you aren’t defined by looks or words or actions – for those
few seconds you can just be, just exist without stereotype.
But like all things – this too passes. Your eyes creak open
allowing it all to come flooding back to you – the unfinished
homework, your best friend’s cruel words, your parent’s
criticism – your cold toes. And before you know it you are
caught up in the rat race again. This happens to me everyday.
It’s like washing your hair – wash, rinse, repeat. Wash, rinse,
repeat.
SELECTION FIVE
JAVIER from STAND and DELIVER
Kimo reminds me a lot of my father ... Not that they
look alike, but that they’re both so single-minded. My
father started out picking grapes and nectarines in the San
Joaquin valley-12 hours a day, six days a week. He taught
himself at night by a kerosene lantern at migrant labor camps
and succeeded in earning a G.E.D. by his 21st birthday. That’s
when he enrolled at Fresno State and met my mother. Seven
years to obtain his degree. Five days of harvesting to afford
two days of higher education. On the day he graduated, he
proposed to my mother, only he insisted on becoming a
C.P.A. before raising a family. He made her wait four years
before she finally heard her wedding bells. You have to
admire a man with his patience and fortitude. But my father
doesn’t understand that what worked for him isn’t necessarily
gonna work for me.
SELECTION FOUR
BRITTNEY from VOICES 2006
There are some people who exist on friendship. Do I? I like
my friends – but to live off them? To find my only
happiness in the people around me? It is an interesting
thought. I’d say I have always been the kind of person who
also likes to be alone. Don’t get me wrong – friends are
great! But when you know someone so well on their good
side – eventually you have to learn about their bad side too.
Everyone has a bad side – they just don’t show it – at first.
Eventually everybody lets their guard down – and starts to
take you for granted. And that is when the paranoia starts –
trying to figure out when will this friend shut down the
kindness and show you their true side. Sometimes it feels
good to know they feel assured enough to open up like that
to you.
SELECTION SIX
HUCK from BIG RIVER
Much as he’d done to me, I couldn’t feel any hardness
against him. Human beings can be so cruel to one another. It
hit me all of a sudden that here was the hand of God, letting
me know I’d been watched all along from above.... and
people who helped a slave like I’d done were the ones who
went to the everlasting fire. I decided to pray and see if I
could stop being the kind of boy I was.... but you can’t pray
a lie, I found that out.,,, But then I got to thinking about our
trip down river and I seen Jim before me all of the time, and
us floating along laughing, singing. And him saying I was
his only friend in the world. I think I’ll steal Jim out of
slavery again and If I can think of something worse I’ll do
that too cause as long as I’m in and in for good I might as
well go whole hog!
Sample Monologues GIRLS
Jane Eyre Jane: Mrs. Reed is my uncle’s wife. My uncle is dead, and he left me to her care. She had to adopt me but she was sorry to have to do it, but my uncle, as I have often heard the servants say, got her to promise before he died, that she would always keep me. But she has always hated me. She let john bully me and when I hit him back, she would lock me in that awful room upstairs. She always told me I was worse than the servants, because the servants at least worked for their living. And no matter what I did, it was wrong, even when I tried. And I did try, Helen, I did try, honest!
The Children’s Hour Mary: Wait a minute, I’ll come with you. I want to tell her that you stole Helen Burton’s bracelet. Yes, you did. You can’t call me a liar, Rosalie wells. That’s a kind of dare and I won’t take a dare. I guess I’ll go tell Grandma, anyway. Then she can call the police and they’ll come for you and you’ll get tried in court. And you’ll go to one of those prisons, and you’ll get older and older, and when you’re good and old they’ll let you out, but your mother and father will be dead and you won’t have any place to go and you’ll beg on the streets. You’re just a common, ordinary thief. Stop that bawling. You’ll have the whole house down here in a minute.
Quilters Annie: My sister Florry is a real good quilter, I guess. Mother says so all the time. Florry’s favorite pattern is the Sunbonnet Sue. Mother taught her how to do appliqué blocks and since then she’s made probably a dozen “Sunbonnet Sue” quilts. You’ve seen ‘em, they’re like little dolls turned sideways with big sunbonnets on. Florry makes each one different. In one her little foot is turned this or that, or she’ll give her a little parasol, or turn the hat a little bit. People think they’re sooo cute. She made one for everybody in the family, so now there are little “Sunbonnet Sue” quilts all over the house. Last Spring she presented one to our teacher. I nearly died. And she’s still at it. Let me tell you, she’s driving me crazy with her “Sunbonnet Sues.” So I decided to make one quilt and give it to Florry. It’s real small. Twin bed size. I finished it and put it on her bed this morning, but I don’t think she’s seen it yet. I guess I done some new things with “Sunbonnet Sue.” I call it the Demise of Sunbonnet Sue. Each little block is different, just like Florry does it. I’ve got a block of her hanging, another one with a knife in her chest, eaten by a snake, eaten by a frog, struck by lightning, and burned up. I’m sorta proud of it. You should see it ... It turned out real good!
Sample Monologues BOYS
Our Town by Thornton Wilder George: Hello, Emily, I just wanted to say you made a fine speech in class. Gee, it’s funny, Emily. From my window up there I can just see your head nights when you’re doing your homework over in your room. You certainly do stick to it, Emily. I don’t see how you can sit still that long. I guess you like school... Emily, what do you think? We might work out a kinda telegraph from your window to mine; and once in a while you could give me a hint or two about one of those algebra problems. I don’t mean the answers, Emily, of course not...just some kinda hint... Anyway it was nice talking to ya. Goodbye.
Incident at Vichy by Arthur Miller Boy: What’d they ask you sir? Could you look at my papers please mister? Please! I have to get out. I was on my way to the pawnshop. Here’s my mother’s wedding ring, it’s all that we have left. She asked me to bring it there and get whatever money I could, and right now she’s waiting for the money. They have nothing in the house to eat. If they let you go will you take this ring for me? Bring it back to my mother. Number Nine Rue Charlot, top floor. Hirsch. Sarah Hirsch. She has long brown hair... be sure it’s her. She has a little beauty mark on this cheek. There are two other families in the apartment, so be sure it’s her. Dark at the Top of the Stairs by William Inge Sonny: Mom. Look, mom! Mrs. Stanford sent me home with her chauffeur, too, Mom. That’s the way you’re supposed to say it, chauffeur. It’s French. She had all kinds of little sandwiches. Gee, they were good. Ad cocoa, too, Mom, with lots of whipped cream on top, in little white cups with gold edges. Little cakes too, with pink frosting and green. And ice cream, too. I just ate and ate and ate. I don’t want any supper. I’m going to the movies tonight, and to the Royal Candy Kitchen afterwards, to buy myself a great big sundae with chocolate and marshmallow cherries and sprinkles. Brighton Beach Memoirs Eugene: I guess there comes a time in everybody’s life when you say, “This very moment is the end of my childhood.” When Stanley closed the door, I knew that moment had come to me... I was scared. I was lonely. And I hated my mother and father for making him so unhappy. Even if they were right, I still hated them...I even hated Stanley a little because he left me there to grow up all by myself. And I hated her for leaving Stanley’s name out when she called us for dinner. I don’t think parents know how cruel they can be sometimes... At dinner I tried to tell them about Stanley, but I just couldn’t get the words out... I left the table without even having my ice cream... if it was suffering I was after, I was beginning to learn about it.