Monologues?

Question

I need to read a dramatic monologue. Any tips? During a monologue, am I allowed to move a little with my body, like pace a little, not out of nervousness, but because it seems like what the speaker should do? And should I exaggerate my emotions or just keep it natural. When I say exaggerate, I mean like, when the speaker is angry should I be really really angry and go over the top, or just as angry as the speaker should be? Help please, this is my first try and I want to make it a good one. thank you! Any tips you can give me would be great!

Answer 1

yes, move around a little bit. don't walk around the room, but don't stand in one place. the more you practice the more natural it will feel. don't go over the top, just hit the mark because monologues are supposed to be emotional, but not too exaggerated unless it's in the real play, then go right ahead.. but if you're just doing it for a theatre class, then play up emotions, but dont go too over the top. don't be stiff, move with the monologue. also remember to memorize it a bit so you can look up when you're speaking if you're doing a reading from a paper. doing verbing/beating and action/intention also helps, if you dont know what that is you can look it up but it's basically just thinking like your character and writing a verb for how he/she would say it.

Answer 2

May I suggest you read Hamlet's advice to the players ACT 3 sc 2, that begins "Speak the speech, I pray you, as I pronounced to you,..." and follow his Shakespeare's advice on good acting?