<p>so i have about 6 monologues so I am prepared to change and I really want to do this one about a girls dad who died. My dad died a month ago and I was wondering if this is appropriate an not too personal. I feel confortable with the monologue and prepared it early. What do you think?</p>
<p>Also as for the shakespeare monologue...do we need to use accents or not?</p>
<p>Accents for Shakespeare? What sorts of accents and for what character? If one is doing Fluellen in Henry V, it is written with a Welsh accent and works best that way. On occasion, a directorial concept will require an accent.</p>
<p>What did you have in mind?</p>
<p>If your referring to college auditions, all of the instructions I've read request that auditioner NOT use accents.</p>
<p>My condolences on the loss of your Dad. That's a difficult experience at any time, but especially at this point in your life.</p>
<p>My monologue is from twelfth night viola's monologue.
My dad monologue is from brighton beach memoirs...is it too personal?</p>
<p>I think it would be up to you to decide if that monologue is too personal and if you could get through it.
However, I think Brighton Beach is often listed as an "overdone" show for monologues. Perhaps, to avoid both problems, you should choose another monologue.</p>
<p>Also, I think Elliotsmom is right: avoid accents. The point of doing a classical monologue more to see if you can get the meaning of Shakespeare across to the auditors, not about how good or bad your accent is.</p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>-Mikksmom's D</p>
<p>That's why I always try to perform a Shakeseare monologue like I would perform any other "modern" monologue. I never understood why when younger theater students perform a classic monologue they feel the need to add a slight English accent to the text when they perform it. (That's not meant to you KissMeKate, I've just seen many kids do it in class and audition situations.) I suppose it's because whenever you watch a period movie, whether it's Shakespeare or not, or in any other country in Europe, everyone has this default English accent. I guess it's the way to tell the viewer "hey this happened a while ago". </p>
<p>But yeah, just try to approach the text like any other monologue. They're just words, focus on what you're saying and trying to get across, don't focus on the words you're using to achieve that emotion.</p>
<p>BreakIntoSong:</p>
<p>Actually, well-trained American actors tend to perform Shakespeare in something called "American Stage" accent. It's not British, but it does tend to reduce emphasis on the final "r" in words and pushes greater tonality, which improves the effect of the verse.</p>
<p>Shakespeare is, by its nature, elevated speech when written in verse. When in prose, it's not. Scansion is vital to any proper interpretation and delivery. In order to make Shakespeare work best, it requires a greater degree of vocal variation than modern, American prose. American English tends to use a vocal tonal range that is too narrow for Shakespeare. There are American directors who insist on taking scansion and range out of Shakespeare. Not surprisingly, reviews of their shows tend to be less than enthusiastic.</p>
<p>For comparison, go see some Shakespeare done by untrained, local actors. Then go to see it at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Stratford (Ontario) Shakespeare Festival, or some other LORT B or higher festival. You'll see that there's just a world of difference. One is magic. The other is ... not.</p>
<p>Kissmekate:</p>
<p>If the instructions say not to use an accent, then don't use one. But that means avoiding material that is written for an accent. For instance, GB Shaw is written mostly for a British accent called "Received Pronunciation" or "RP." RP was taught at elite British public schools such as Harrow, Eton, and the like. The words simply don't come off well when done in the flat, American tones. Stay away from Synge. I can't imagine doing Synge in anything but an Irish accent. The same would apply to certain works that require New York accents, a Southern accent, and the like. You can't do something from Tobacco Road in American Standard and expect good results.</p>
<p>Viola should certainly not be done in a British accent if you are not British. If you haven't mastered Shakespeare (and most people your age have not), then don't try American Stage either. Just speak the words trippingly off the tongue, make sense of them by putting emphasis in the right places, and match the word to the action, the action to the word. I assume you're doing the "I am the man" speech? Be sure to hit your transitions cleanly. Most kids I've seen do that speech tend to slop over the transitions.</p>
<p>Ideally, you know someone who is an excellent Shakespearean actor. Get him/her to help you.</p>
<p>Good luck.</p>