The Contemporary Monologue: Men

By Philippa Keil and Michael Earley

Book Overview

The Contemporary Monologue is an exciting selection of speeches of all types, serious and comic, realistic and absurdist, drawn from plays written by contemporary playwrights over the past ten years. Updating the popular Modern Monologues, this fresh collection of speeches represents the best American and English playwrights of today including Caryl Churchill, Ariel Dorfman, John Guare, David Mamet, Tony Kushner, Stephen Sondheim and John Weidman.

Organized for maximum benefit to the actor gleaning for background material, individual selections are introduced with a summary of the play's action up to the point the speech begins. A brief sketch of the character is also given, utilizing, where possible, the playwright's own words. Finally, a commentary follows each monologue, alerting the actor to details in the speech that could help him/her perform it better.

Some of the highlights of TheContemporary Monologue for men include selections from Angels in America, by Tony Kushner; Frankie and Johnniein the Clair de Lune, by Terrence McNally; States ofShock, by Sam Shepard; and Speed-the-Plow, by David Mamet.

Highlights of The Contemporary Monologue for women include selections from:

TheContemporary Monologue is an invaluable resource for acting classes, competitions, auditions and rehearsals. It is an affordable and necessary tool for serious actors everywhere.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0878300619
• ISBN13: 9780878300617
• Release Date: August 1995
• Publisher: Routledge
• Length: 142 Pages
• Weight: 0.28 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.3" x 4.9" x 7.8"

Customer Reviews

Essential guide for any actor

This book includes some of the best monolouges from the worlds newest and bravest playwrights. Authors such as Tony Kushner and Emily Mann along with many others contribute speeches from thier harrowing and award-winning plays of the last ten years. Definatly a must-buy for anyone looking for an oringial and unique monolouge.