Expert: Kenneth D. Plonkey - 6/18/2009

Question
Hello Kenneth:

I need some advice on how to memorize a one minute monologue. I have selected two so far, but I need to know what is a good technique to use to learn these lines.

I thank you for your reply and assistance.

Answer
Hello Kenneth, Well, if you have chosen the proper material, memorization is a snap. Long speeches from plays are quite simple to learn if you have read the entire play and understand what the speech is all about. That is to say, if you understand the stimuli that make the character respond with this speech. What characters say in plays are the emotional and physical responses to the stimuli of the scene--what is happening around and to the character. Thus, every word of a long speech (monologue) is part of that response. That is what you need to know and you get that from reading and understanding the play. Now to mechanically learn the words requires some effort. You need to write to be at kencosp@aol.com and ask for my three page outline on how to learn your role. That will cover the mechanics. To perform the monologue one it is learned, requires that you know what acting is all about and that you do that. If you ask about that when you write for the outline I will briefly explain it. God bless, Doc