I'm auditioning to play Olivia in Twelfth Night, do you have any tips?

Question

There are only three girls in Twelfth Night! (viola, olivia, maria) I really really really want to be Olivia. I am good at acting and I really love Shakespeare. What should I do to help me get this part?
(PS- The monologue I'm doing is Lady MacBeth's "out damn spot" scene because it's difficult and I already have it memorized. I figure if I do well with a difficult scene, it proves my skills.)

Never mind on the whole Lady Macbeth thing, it doesn't show that I can play someone like Olivia. Here's the one I'm doing:
OLIVIA
O, what a deal of scorn looks beautiful
In the contempt and anger of his lip!
A murderous guilt shows not itself more soon
Than love that would seem hid: love's night is noon.
Cesario, by the roses of the spring,
By maidhood, honor, truth and every thing,
I love thee so, that, maugre all thy pride,
Nor wit nor reason can my passion hide.
Do not extort thy reasons from this clause,
For that I woo, thou therefore hast no cause,
But rather reason thus with reason fetter,
Love sought is good, but given unsought better.

Answer 1

To be honest, it is difficult for me to think of a more ill-chosen Shakspearean monologue for an audition for Olivia than Lady's MacBeth's most famous monologue containing one of the most famous lines in all of Shakespeare. Well, I think Ophelia's insanity scene may be worse.

My tip, as it were, would be to scour plays such as Measure for Measure, Much Ado About Nothing or Comedy of Errors for more fitting monologues. I know that you already know Lady MacBeth's monologue (as do many, many other people and probably some who will be auditioning with you) but that monologue would just not work. Show them you can be funny -- beacause you are auditioning for a COMEDY. You can't do the same monologue at each audition just because you already know it. Do crazy another time... that's a good monologue to keep in your back pocket.

Answer 2

Dont do Lady M. Do Olivia. She is dignified and yet falls head over heels for Cesario(Viola dressed as a man). Her extreme attraction to him is evident in the monologue you cite and all the more funny because she has been pretending to be sedate and in mourning for her father in order to rebuff Duke Orsino's advances, one thing that makes the play so funny is that Duke is like wise smitten with Olivia as she is for Cesario, his messenger. Viola has a great monologue where she recognizes Olivia has fallen in love with her disguise. And since there are only three major roles (there are ladies in waiting) be happy whatever you get, even a lady in waiting.

Answer 3

I'd say for Olivia to focus more on the character than the lines themselves. Once you know how you want to be Olivia, everything else will fall into place. And make sure that you seem especially tormented and 'un-rehersed' for the Lady Macbeth scene. It's never good if it seems stiff.