MONOLOGUE ONE – FEMALE

The Singing Lesson

Susan Battye

George (short for Georgina) is the class clown – who is constantly trying to make friends.

The classroom, 2001, tutor time, mufti day. The bell rings. George enters backwards, yelling to someone outside the door. She has her bag with her, which she holds in front, and a paper cup full of Coke. She is dressed in loud mufti – as for the beach.

Yelling

See ya at interval, Sepa! Don’t be late at the tuck shop!

She bumps into a classmate and spills coke all over herself.

Aww, geek, look whatcha done. My mother bought me this shirt in Hawaii. Look at it! I’ll get it in the neck when I get home.

She heads for her seat, dumps her stuff and begins to frantically clean herself up.

Get a life.

She sees a friend across the classroom, she stands up.

Hey, Vanessa, doya like my shirt?

Does a twirl

Neat eh? Me mother bought it for me in Hawaii.

No response.

She an’ Dwayne, ah Dwayne’s her boyfriend see? Anyway they went for a holiday, well more of a honeymoon really, “cept for they’re not married, well, anyway they bought me this shirt. Well, Mum did, actually. Dwayne helped choose it. So, what doya think?

 

MONOLOGUE TWO – MALE

You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown.
Based on the comic strip “Peanuts” by Charles M. Schultz

Charlie Brown is alone in the schoolyard during lunchtime. He is feeling sorry for himself because he is always alone.

I think lunchtime is about the worst time of the day for me. Always having to sit here alone. Of course mornings aren’t so pleasant either – waking up and wondering if anyone would really miss me if I never go out of bed. Then there’s the night too… and all the hours in between… Well, lunchtime is among the worst time of the day for me.

I guess I better see what I’ve got. (He opens his bag and unwraps a sandwich – he looks inside)

Peanut butter. (He bites and chews)

There’s that cute little redheaded girl eating her lunch over there. I wonder what she’d do if I went over and asked if I could sit and have lunch with her. There’s an empty place right next to her on the bench. All I have to do is stand up. (he stands) I’m standing up. (he sits) I’m sitting down. I’m a coward. She wouldn’t even think of looking at me. (he looks and freezes) She’s looking at me! (He looks around, frantically – then pulls his lunch bag over his head.)

MONOLOGUE THREE – MALE/FEMALE

Branches.

David Hill.

It is 1965, the Compere is giving a fashion parade-type commentary.

Rosemary is wearing 1965’s new micro-skirt in purple vinyl. This is the sort of skirt that makes boys put on dark glasses – so they can stare in secret and so their eyes don’t fall out, ha, ha. The skirt is teamed with a skinnyrib sleeveless rayon top in iridescent lime green, and a belt of white plastic snakeskin. Rosemary’s outfit is topped off – or should we say bottomed off, ha, ha – with tights in a purple to match her skirt, and with vinyl knee-length white beatle boots. And of course, Rosemary is complemented by the well-dressed young woman’s most important accessory, ha, ha – the well-dressed young man!

Ross is wearing an elegant suit in shiny dark blue polyester. Ross’ shirt is pale blue rayon-cotton with button down collar, combined with a thinline dark blue tie. Like Rosemary, his choice of footwear is right up to the minute – calf length, black vinyl beatle boots!

MONOLOGUE FOUR – MALE/FEMALE

Night for Clowns.

Barbara Neale

Gary is mimicking his mother. He is showing his friends how she reacts whenever he goes out to a party.

My Mum? She’s like… he changes his voice Oh…so there’s a party tonight? Going along? Good bunch of friends going to be there? Got a girlfriend going? Someone you want to meet? If you do go, how are you getting home? Gary, no one’s safe these days. I don’t want you walking home late on your own – I sure as hell don’t want you driving with some loopy kid who’s had too much to drink…

He mimes his mother listening – then interrupts. I’m not interfering. I just want to know. You’re still my responsibility, and I have to live up to that, don’t I? Well, don’t I?

He returns to his normal voice But my Dad, it’s always -

Voice changes again OK, what about this party? Might be a good one, eh? You’re Mr. Cool, you better go. Need any money?