<p>Hey everyone, first of all I wish you all broken legs at NYC Unifieds this weekend! Second of all, I have a question regarding one of my monologues. Do you all think it is okay to bring a small piece of paper and rip it into 3 pieces during my Julia monologue from Two Gentlemen of Verona? I suppose I could mime it, but I'm afraid it wouldn't be clear and I kind of like the blocking I've created for myself with it. However, I don't want to break a rule and be on the judges bad side as a result. As I've mentioned before, I'm going into this without any real help in the preparation process so I don't have anyone here to ask. Do you all have any thoughts?</p>
<p>As long as you don’t drop the pieces I’m sure that’s fine. They don’t want elaborate costumes and props but something to make the point is not going to make or break you. At D’s NYU audition they said “There will be a chair in the room. You may use the chair any way you like as long as you don’t 1. stand on it, or 2. throw it. Also please do not take off your clothes. Anything else is fine.” Seemed like good advice to me. They’re looking for honestly and intelligence and energy, not perfect adherence to rules.</p>
<p>Okay! That makes a lot of sense! I actually do have to drop them, but I pick them up in the course of the monologue so there won’t be any awkward cleaning up to do after the audition. Hopefully the auditioners care more about good artistic choices and less about typical rules :)</p>
<p>Yes, usually auditors will worry more about good artistic choices then about rules.</p>
<p>I know I once was at a professional audition with a group of other auditors, and one actress came in with props for BOTH her monologues, however she was so incredible none of us minded (and we had gotten so sick of bad acting that we were relieved to see such a good actress!)</p>
<p>But are you really sure that you are that much better than your competition that you can safely take this risk?</p>
<p>I’ve got my complete works here next to me, opened to the scene you are talking about. The way the scene is written, Julia has a scene with Lucetta, she rips the paper, then after a couple of lines Lucetta exits, then after Lucetta is gone Julia regrets what she has done and picks up the pieces while talking about them. Maybe you are combining some lines to make a longer monologue?</p>
<p>Ripping up a piece of paper should be a very easy thing to mime. Especially if there are lines that make it clear you have a piece of paper that you don’t like.</p>
<p>But I may be making too big a deal out of what is really a small rule.</p>