For the past few weeks we have been talking about audition monologues. Before starting to rehearse, sit down and imagine your way through the monologues. Take time and get images for every person, place, and idea that you talk about. If you are having trouble, go to Google and look for pictures that help you fill in blank spots. Understand that you don’t have to have an exact image for everything you mention, you can make substitutions, but you do need to have images.
Remember, doing an audition is like presenting your own show, which means that everything you do in the audition must be carefully prepared and staged. You have to work the entrance, introduction, transitions, and exit.
One question that comes up frequently is “Do I have to introduce myself first or can I just start a monologue?” If there is no specific audition guideline, and there usually isn’t, do what works best for your ‘audition show.’
There is some value to going right into a monologue, using your entrance as the character’s entrance and starting right up. This approach lets the casting people see you as the character immediately. If you introduce yourself first and then ‘go into’ a character, the casting people will often say, “I can see the acting.” But starting with the monologue can eliminate that response. So the decision is up to you.
Staging an audition monologue is a challenge because the other character or characters you are talking not there with you. So as you start work, you need to determine exactly where everyone is on stage. This is essential to keep your eyes darting around at random.
As you work on a monologue, you probably notice that as you speak and reminisce or speak and think your eyes will go up or down or focus inward. When you are talking to someone, you look directly at him or her. So now as you stage the piece you have to make sure that your eye focus is clear. Are you talking to someone? Are you talking to yourself? Are you thinking? You must pick specific locations to focus on when you do each of these things. Your focus will help your acting and it will communicate what you are doing to the audience.
So for now, work through your monologues, determine exactly who or what you are speaking to at each moment. Place those people or ideas on stage so that you can direct your eyes properly. Doing this will ensure that your monologue is clear and it will help you to communicate your intentions and feelings…the things we need to see from actors.
