I need a really good 3-5 minute monologue that will capture an audience's attention... help?

Question

I am going to recite it in front of my class (all girls). I want to attract attention, not bore people by just going on and on. Anything that will catch attention?

Answer 1

Rules for chosing monologues:
1) From a play, not a monologue book, unless it follows all the other rules.
2) Appropriate. Make sure swear words or crude humor are very minimal, you don't want to offend any of your audience or your teacher.
3) Dramatic if you're less experienced, Comedic if you have good timing.
4) DON'T PICK STORY-TELLING. Those are the ones that bore you. You want MID-ACTION. You want that climax in a play, the turning point of a character, BOOM! that turns all heads and attention.
5) Be yourself. I can't emphasize this more. Don't play an emotion, pick an objective. Who are you talking to? What do you want from them? Write this sentence for your monologue: I want _____ from my partner. Do you want friendship? Understanding? Respect? Trust? Approval?
6) Use at least three different tactics to get your objective. If the first one isn't working (i.e. To Annoy) try another, (To Seduce) and another if that doesn't work (To Guilt-Trip). The list goes on.
7) Ask your teacher if it's appropriate for your age. You don't want to play an old woman or a toddler boy, not unless you can really pull it off. I wouldn't because when I was in my first acting class I messed up big time with a man american monologue by playing it with a british accent and my girl tendencies. (My first acting class was long ago in high school mind you)
8) Don't have enough money for buying plays or time enough to borrow them from the library? Go to your acting teacher and ask for help OR use the internet:
-Women Monologues
-Comedic Monologues
-Shakespearian monolgoues
-Dramatic Monologues
-Etc

Good Luck. I don't know you well enough to pick a great monologue or know your tastes. Yet, with your personality I would suggest Helena's monologue from scene 1 in A midsummer's Night Dream at the very end. Or I would do any monologue from the lead in Our Town. Very dramatic and I think your age.

Sorry I couldn't help more.

Answer 2

Try these: 1. show emotion (crying, exclamation, suprise, etc.) 2. do some movements (dance, mimic, sign language, knock on podium, etc.). I received an A in presentations/public speaking & won many contests this way. One time, I did a 5-7 minute speech about children's speech problems, but I began my intro stuttering in a child's voice. This captured the audience's attention because they wanted to know where I was going, and they thought it was funny! I got an A on the speech! Good luck!

Answer 3

Do something from "The Vagina Monologues." Some of them are very powerful and some are funny. All female monologues, excellent for catching someone's attention.

Answer 4

It's kinda long. Keeping it short will help their attention. Who are you and what is the subject matter of the class? Fill me in and maybe I can help. Pick a funny Vagina Monologue.

Answer 5

I say you can't go wrong with some good old Shakespeare. Plus, there are a lot of his plays that have been made into movies so you can always rent your favorite one pick a monologue and practice with it. That will help with your presentation.

Answer 6

Talk about something your audience can identify with--Like how hard it was to prepare the speech you are giving to them right now. Tell the sources you used (LIKE YAHOO ANSWERS) and how you prepared the final speech from all the inputs you used. Throw in a joke or any kind of laugh and your audience will love it.

Answer 7

Go with current affairs Brittney,Logan, Hilton, you know the usual and use comedy, jokes, and imagination. Good Luck.

Answer 8

First, you need to say a funny joke..

Yo mama so fat I had to take a train and two buses just to get on the her good side!

Answer 9

Vote for Pedro!

Answer 10

Shakespeare is always good.