What is the best monolouge to use for refining your acting skills?

Question:Could someone give me a few suggestions? Right now, I'm using Miranda from the Tempest as my pratice.

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: Could someone give me a few suggestions? Right now, I'm using Miranda from the Tempest as my pratice.

There's no real quick answer for you. Every actor is different in how he or she approaches a role and different actors will be better suited to working on different material.

Generally, I would say you should start by working on monologues that appear in published plays. I would hesitate using monologues from monologue books. I say this for several reasons. One, you're liable to get a broader selection of better material if you take the time to read Shakespeare, Ibsen, Shaw, Sarah Kane, Sam Shepard, the whole cannon. Second, all monolouges are really just dialogue put in a place and time.

I would, however, use monolouge anthologies. Books that compile the best pieces from performed manuscripts. If you find something you like in there, read the play and start to work on it. In short there is no "best" monolouge for refining your acting skills. I would say work on one classical verse pieces, one piece from Chekhov or Ibsen and one contemporary piece to start.

Good luck and break a leg.

Well, anything by Shakespeare, really. Try different types of poetry, like Burns or Browning. The language is difficult to get a hang of, and it's really helped me!
Also, look up an old late 80's-early 90's tv show called 'A Bit of Fry and Laurie'. It stars Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie (of course, hence the name). There are some very good monolouges in there, and they're funny, too. Try finding a few episodes from season one.
I hope that helps you!

Try the monologue from George Bernard Shaw's "Saint Joan", at the trial before she's burned. It starts "Perpetual imprisonment? Am I not then to be set free?" and ends with "That is my last word to you." (When I did this scene, I omitted a few of the inquisitors' lines to make it a monologue, and it KILLED.)

It's on pages 143-144 at the following link. Check it out:

http://books.google.com/books?id=T70Ahd8...

check out the show "The Auditioners" you can get the script online- it is fabulous for refining your skills. The entire play is made up of crazy monolouges- acting wise, it is one of the hardest plays ever to do.