After working in the business for 16 years now, I’m still hunting down the elusive comedic monologue. I’ve found usable ones, sure. But can’t seem to find one that embodies the characters I play best: the neurotic, over-caffeinated, thinks-too-much type. :-/ Still looking.
RE: one of the entries below: I think 2 is a good place to start. When I was teaching, however, I encouraged my students to always be working on another monologue. Grab a Shakespeare monologue, memorize a piece from it, and work it in the shower every morning. When you feel good about it, snag another contrasting one and do the same. Continue with contemporary monologues (not just rehearsing in the shower, BTW). :-) Your goal is to build an arsenal – to have a monologue for every occasion.
I can’t even count the number of auditions I’ve been on where I needed to pull another monologue out of my back pocket…and if you’re ready to go with another one when they ask, it looks that much more professional, makes you feel that much more confident…and overall demonstrates what a capable performer you are.
So start with 2. Work them into the ground, until you can connect to them without a second of emotional prep. Then start adding more – and when you find one that suits you better than the first 2, move it into the top slot. Ultimately, it’s just another way of working your craft that you can do outside the walls of class…and that might really help you out at some point, too.
