Browse Acting Monologues & Scenes

AFTER THE HUNT

by Nora Garrett

A professor delivers a sharp, intellectual rebuke to a student regarding the concept of 'the Other' and the modern desire for sanitized academic environments. She defends the necessity of discomfort and rigorous teaching over the safety of trigger warnings and rounded edges.

Sorry, Baby

by Eva Victor

Agnes speaks to an infant, Jane, offering a brutally honest and darkly comedic perspective on the hardships of life. She promises to be a non-judgmental confidante for Jane's future struggles while grappling with her own lack of maternal instinct and the existential weight of bringing a child into the world.

A Woman of No Importance

by Oscar Wilde

Mrs. Arbuthnot delivers a powerful defense of her life and her devotion to her son, Gerald. She explains the immense sacrifices she made as an unwed mother in a judgmental society, pleading with him to understand that her 'sin' is inseparable from her love for him.

The Picture of Dorian Gray

by Oscar Wilde

Basil Hallward confesses the deep, obsessive influence Dorian Gray has had on his life and artistic vision. He explains why he was originally hesitant to exhibit the portrait, fearing it revealed too much of his own soul and his 'idolatry' of his muse.

Humanitad

by Oscar Wilde

A woman reflects on the end of a passionate relationship, using vivid natural imagery to reconcile the beauty of their past with the necessity of their parting. She urges her lover to accept that their individual paths—her beauty and his art—require them to exist in separate worlds.

The Picture of Dorian Gray

by Oscar Wilde

Basil Hallward confesses his deep-seated anxiety regarding the tragic fate of those blessed with extraordinary beauty or intellect. He warns Lord Henry that their unique gifts—wealth, brains, and Dorian's beauty—will ultimately lead to their suffering and ruin.

Some Literary Notes—V

by Oscar Wilde

The Doge recounts a harrowing spiritual battle where he sacrificed his eternal soul to save Venice from demonic forces. He describes the moment of setting a holy cross on high despite knowing it would seal his damnation, ending in a state of despair where he can no longer pray.

Looper

by Rian Johnson

A young assassin reflects on his future self's memories of a woman who changed his life. He realizes the depth of his future self's sacrifice and decides to embrace his destiny, understanding that he must die to protect the woman he has yet to meet.

Ajax

by Sophocles

Tecmessa desperately pleads with Ajax to reconsider his suicidal path, highlighting the dire consequences his death would have on his family. She appeals to his sense of honor and duty, arguing that his demise would leave her and their son in a life of shameful slavery and misery.

Reservoir Dogs

by Quentin Tarantino

Mr. Pink delivers a crude and highly specific deconstruction of Madonna's 'Like a Virgin' to a group of professional criminals. He argues that the song is not about romance, but rather a metaphor for the physical pain of a sexual encounter with a well-endowed man.

Water for Elephants

by Richard LaGravenese

Following the sudden death of his parents and the foreclosure of his family home, Jacob realizes his parents sacrificed everything for his education. Overwhelmed by grief and the sudden loss of his identity, he wanders into the night and makes a split-second decision to jump onto a passing train to escape his old life.

Trainspotting

by John Hodge

Mark Renton delivers a cynical, fast-paced manifesto against consumerist society while fleeing from store detectives and experiencing the highs and lows of heroin addiction. The monologue juxtaposes the mundane expectations of middle-class life with the chaotic, gritty reality of his own existence.

Romeo and Juliet

by William Shakespeare

Juliet waits impatiently for the Nurse to return with news from Romeo regarding their wedding arrangements. She reflects on the agonizing slowness of time and the contrast between the swiftness of youthful passion and the perceived lethargy of the elderly.

A Woman of No Importance

by Oscar Wilde

Hester Worsley, a young American visitor, delivers a scathing critique of the hypocrisy and moral decay she perceives in the English upper class. She challenges the guests at Lady Hunstanton's party to recognize their spiritual emptiness and their mistreatment of the poor.

Reservoir Dogs

by Quentin Tarantino

Freddy, an undercover cop, rehearses a fabricated story about a drug deal to his mentor, Holdaway. He describes the frustrations of being a small-time dealer and the logistics of a specific 'drought' in the 1980s to build his cover identity's credibility.

The Silence of the Lambs

by Ted Tally

Dr. Hannibal Lecter psychologically dismantles FBI trainee Clarice Starling during their first encounter. He uses his heightened senses and intellectual superiority to expose her insecurities and establish a dominant, predatory connection.

The Silence of the Lambs

by Ted Tally

Clarice Starling recounts a haunting childhood trauma to Dr. Hannibal Lecter, explaining her failed attempt to save a lamb from slaughter. She reveals that her drive to rescue Catherine Martin is a desperate attempt to silence the psychological 'screaming' that has plagued her since that night.

The Three Sisters

by Anton Chekhov

Solyony reveals the deep-seated insecurity and loneliness hidden beneath his aggressive and eccentric public persona. He reflects on his inability to communicate his sensitive nature to others, admitting that his cynical behavior is merely a defense mechanism against rejection.

Uncle Vanya

by Anton Chekhov

Dr. Astrov reflects on his profound disillusionment with humanity and the medical profession. He expresses a deep-seated cynicism regarding the moral decay of the world and explains how he uses alcohol to numb the existential pain of his daily life.

Uncle Vanya

by Anton Chekhov

In the play's final moments, Sonya attempts to comfort her despairing uncle after the departure of the Serebryakovs. She delivers a poignant vision of spiritual peace and rest in the afterlife to justify their continued toil and suffering on earth.

On the High Road

by Anton Chekhov

Fedya, a restless and weary traveler, seeks warmth and connection in a roadside inn during a storm. He reflects on his past talents as a musician while attempting to comfort an elderly, dying man with talk of vodka and the harshness of life.

Kane & Lynch

by Kyle Ward

Eliza, a defiant and estranged teenager, addresses her kidnappers while they attempt to record a ransom message. She expresses her deep-seated hatred for her father, claiming he doesn't care about her disappearance and that she would rather suffer than ask for his help.

The Kids Are All Right

by Lisa Cholodenko, Stuart Blumberg

Jules delivers a raw and vulnerable apology to her family after her affair is discovered. She reflects on the grueling reality of long-term marriage and the mistakes people make when they lose sight of their partner.

Les Misérables

by William Nicholson, Alain Boublil, Claude-Michel Schönberg, Herbert Kretzmer

Fantine reflects on her tragic descent from a hopeful young woman to a destitute factory worker turned prostitute. She mourns the loss of her innocence and the man who abandoned her, ultimately concluding that the harsh realities of life have destroyed her dreams.