Expert: John T. Aney - 8/19/2007

Question
I am hoping to be cast for a specific role, Kitty Duval from "The Time of Your Life" by William Saroyan.  I have spent the past two months reading monologues for this specific role (I have even spent a day at the NY Drama Bookstore going through all monologue books and new plays)  I have yet to find a play with a character compatable with Kitty Duval, including some of Saroyan's other works.  I am in dire need of direction.  I don't want to be told a specific monologue, but maybe some play suggestions to guide me toward similar characters with similar language.

Answer
I would look through the plays of Clifford Odets. He was writing a bit earlier, but the language would be similar.  Particularly look at "Waiting for Lefty" - there might be some good speeches by Edna that you could work into a short monologue.

And don't worry too much about doing a monologue that is with a character "compatible" with Kitty - do something you can connect to, that you can do well, and that shows strong choices. That is what directors REALLY want to see.

jta