In an audition for a professional company, is it acceptable to cut out parts of a monologue for brevity?

Question

I'll be doing the famous Paper Crown speech from Henry VI, Part 3. Please answer only if you are a working professional in theatre or know the answer for sure. Thanks!

Answer 1

In general, absolutely. I do this all the time to fit a monologue into a particuluar time constraint. With Shakespeare...that's a whole different ball of yarn. It is okay to shorten the speech or start it at a later place. I, personally, would not cut and paste lines. People tend to have very strong feelings about Shakespeare and the director may not appreciate your "editing". This is just my perception, but I tend to think that the general thought amongst aficionadois that you don't F with Shakespeare. Well, the words at least. I've seen maaaaanny different interpretations of the plays themselves.

Can you either use a chunk out of the middle or the end or just find a shorter monologue?

Answer 2

In general, no, but in a monologue from Henry VI of any part, yes, as long as you act it out as though there is nothing missing.

Answer 3

It is perfectly acceptable.

Monologues have a time limit imposed. You don't want to get part way through your monologue and have them stop you before the end. Shakespeare in particular is often cut even in production to keep the run time manageable.

Break a leg.

Answer 4

In most cases it is acceptable. If it is a very traditional company you may want to qualify your introduction to your piece with "excerpts from".

Answer 5

I hope this company you are auditioning for does lots of Shakespeare. and I hope you are especially suited for the role you are playing. Other wise it is all for naught.

Answer 6

To keep it simple, yes.

-Laila