Comedy-drama Monologues

The Edge of Seventeen

by Kelly Fremon Craig

A high school student reaches a breaking point, confessing her deep-seated feelings of inadequacy and isolation to an adult figure. She grapples with the pressure of her mother's expectations and the grief of losing her father.

The Great Dictator

by Charlie Chaplin

A humble barber, mistaken for a powerful dictator, delivers a passionate plea for humanity, peace, and democracy. He rejects the pursuit of power in favor of universal brotherhood and the end of greed and hate.

The Big Short

by Adam McKay, Charles Randolph

A fourth-wall-breaking explanation of how mortgage-backed securities transitioned from government-guaranteed bonds to risky 'subprime' private bonds. The character simplifies complex financial jargon for the audience while in a casual setting.

Ruben Guthrie

by Ben Ellis

Ruben recounts his traumatic yet formative experiences at a boarding school where he was targeted for his interest in fashion rather than sports. He describes the arrival of Corey, an older and cooler student who unexpectedly protected him and became a focal point of his family's attention.

BoJack Horseman

by Raphael Bob-Waksberg

BoJack delivers a lengthy, cynical eulogy at his mother's funeral, beginning with a story about a mundane interaction at a Jack in the Box. He reflects on the performative nature of grief and the absurdity of receiving a free churro as compensation for his mother's death.

Cleo, Camping, Emmanuelle and Dick

by Terry Johnson

A slightly tipsy actress laments the superficiality of the film industry and her struggle to be taken seriously as a dramatic artist despite her public image.

Little Murders

by Jules Feiffer

On her wedding day, Patsy confronts her nihilistic and passive fiancé, Alfred. She desperately pleads with him to engage with life and allow her to mold him into the man she needs.

Fleabag

by Phoebe Waller-Bridge

In a desperate and pathetic attempt to save his marriage, Martin lists his minor domestic contributions while acknowledging his 'bad personality' and alcohol problem. He ultimately insults his wife after she literally begs him to leave.

A Complete Unknown

by James Mangold, Jay Cocks

A young Bob Dylan performs a comedic anecdote at Gerde's Folk City about being paid in chess pieces for a gig in New Jersey. The scene captures his early stage persona—nervous, witty, and slightly edgy—as he transitions from a storyteller into his musical performance while acknowledging Joan Baez in the crowd.

Ted Lasso

by Brendan Hunt, Joe Kelly, Bill Lawrence, Jason Sudeikis

Nate, the formerly timid kit man, delivers a brutal and surprisingly insightful locker room speech to the team. He calls out each player's weaknesses with sharp insults to motivate them before a big match.

Nightbitch

by Marielle Heller

A mother grappling with the overwhelming physical and psychological shifts of early parenthood talks to herself in a grocery store. She questions her identity and her sanity as she experiences a heightened, almost animalistic sensory awakening.

Company

by Stephen Sondheim, George Furth

April, an airline stewardess, recounts a story about a butterfly cocoon given to her by a man she was seeing. What begins as a rambling anecdote about a cat and a butterfly turns into a poignant realization about her own self-worth and the way she was treated by the man.

Spike Heels

by Theresa Rebeck

A angry, frustrated, defiant RGIE's monologue from "Spike Heels" by Theresa Rebeck.

A Matter of Husbands

by Ferenc Molnár

A sophisticated actress explains to a suspicious wife that her husband's alleged affair is merely a calculated ruse to make the wife jealous. She argues that actresses are frequently used as unwitting tools to rekindle fading marital romances.

Dags

by Debra Oswald

Gillian confesses her deep, unrequited crush on the popular boy Adam. She describes the lengths she goes to just to be near him and the elaborate romantic fantasies she constructs in her head.

After Juliet

by Sharman Macdonald

Gianni, a witty sixteen-year-old Capulet, delivers a meticulous and eccentric monologue regarding the proper way to prepare and serve tea. He discusses the necessity of warming the pot and the dangers of turnip-contaminated milk in the winter.

Jane the Virgin

by Jennie Snyder Urman

Jane spirally processes the impossible news that her late husband, Michael, is actually alive but suffering from amnesia. She frantically debates her legal status, her identity as a widow, and the impact this has on her current relationship and her son.

Waiting for Godot

by Samuel Beckett

Lucky, a silent and burdened servant, is commanded to 'think' by his master Pozzo. He delivers a frantic, stream-of-consciousness torrent of philosophical and scientific jargon that eventually devolves into a repetitive breakdown about the decline of man and the coldness of the universe.

Company

by Stephen Sondheim, George Furth

April, a flight attendant, recounts a story about a cocoon given to her by a man she was seeing. The story serves as a metaphor for her own vulnerability and her realization that she deserves as much care and respect as any other living thing.

Pygmalion

by George Bernard Shaw

Eliza confronts Higgins after her successful transformation, grappling with her loss of identity and uncertain future. She expresses deep resentment over being treated as a mere experiment and struggles with the realization that she no longer fits into her old life or her new one.

Dags

by Debra Oswald

Gillian, a self-proclaimed 'dag', admits her intense and unrequited crush on the most popular boy in school. She details the embarrassing lengths she goes to for his attention and the elaborate romantic fantasies she constructs in her head.

Safety Not Guaranteed

by Derek Connolly

Belinda recounts her past relationship with Kenneth, revealing his eccentricities and the dramatic car accident that served as their final encounter. She reflects on his insecurities and the night he crashed into her future husband's home, unknowingly providing crucial backstory for the protagonist.

When I Was a Girl, I Used to Scream and Shout

by Sharman Macdonald

Fiona desperately bargains with God to avoid an unwanted pregnancy after a sexual encounter with Ewan. She lists the potential collateral damage to her family and her future while recounting a recent good deed as leverage.

The Boor

by Anton Chekhov

Luka, an aging servant, laments the state of his household following the death of his master. He expresses deep concern for his mourning mistress, Elena Ivanovna, and fears the arrival of a boisterous creditor will shatter the fragile peace of the estate.

Deadpool & Wolverine

by Ryan Reynolds, Rhett Reese, Paul Wernick, Zeb Wells, Shawn Levy

Wolverine reaches his breaking point and delivers a brutal verbal takedown of Deadpool's character and failures. He weaponizes Deadpool's insecurities about his heroism and personal life to express his own deep-seated rage and exhaustion.

The Diary of a Scoundrel

by Alexander Ostrovsky

Gloumov delivers a passionate, seemingly vulnerable confession of love to Kleopatra, detailing his past loneliness and the transformative power of her grace.

Invitation to a March

by Arthur Laurents

Camilla Jablonski introduces herself and the setting of the South Shore of Long Island to the audience. She reflects on her father's history with the land and the changing social landscape of the area.

Toy Story

by Joss Whedon, rew Stanton, Joel Cohen, Alec Sokolow

Woody expresses his deep-seated insecurity and jealousy toward Buzz Lightyear. He realizes that his own simple features cannot compete with Buzz's high-tech gadgets, leading to a moment of vulnerability regarding his place in Andy's life.

Secret Bridesmaids' Business

by Elizabeth Coleman

James attempts to justify his infidelity by blaming the lack of clear communication from women. He expresses frustration over the conflicting expectations placed on men to be both traditionally masculine and emotionally sensitive.

Cosi

by Louis Nowra

Doug, a psychiatric patient with a history of pyromania, recounts a darkly comedic and disturbing story about how a psychiatrist's advice led him to set fire to his mother's cats and, eventually, her entire house.

Cosi

by Louis Nowra

Doug, a patient in a mental institution, explains the dark and absurd circumstances that led to his incarceration. He describes how a psychiatrist's advice to confront his mother resulted in him setting her cats on fire and accidentally burning down her house.

Asteroid City

by Wes Anderson, Roman Coppola

General Gibson delivers a structured, eccentric keynote speech to a group of young stargazers, reflecting on the harsh realities of his past and the rapid, cold progression of science. He challenges the next generation to face an uncertain future with the understanding that the world is no longer a quiet or peaceful place.

Secret Bridesmaids' Business

by Elizabeth Coleman

James attempts to justify his infidelity just before his wedding, shifting between defensive frustration regarding gender expectations and a final, blunt admission of his own poor behavior.

Asteroid City

by Wes Anderson, Roman Coppola

Augie reflects on his late wife's vibrant personality and scientific curiosity while speaking to his son, Woodrow. He struggles to articulate the depth of his grief and the surreal feeling of still sensing her presence in the quiet moments of the night.

Annie Jump and the Library of Heaven

by Reina Hardy

Annie, a thirteen-year-old science prodigy, introduces herself and her life in Strawberry, Kansas. She describes the isolation of being a genius in a small town before her stargazing is interrupted by a mysterious green explosion.

Little Murders

by Jules Feiffer

On her wedding day, Patsy confronts her new husband Alfred about his emotional detachment. She passionately demands that he engage with life and allow her to shape him into the man she needs.

BoJack Horseman

by Raphael Bob-Waksberg

BoJack delivers a lengthy, cynical eulogy for his mother, beginning with a story about a mundane interaction at a Jack in the Box. He explores the social obligation to be 'awesome' and the strange grief of receiving a free churro for his loss.

The Lisbon Traviata

by Terrence McNally

Mendy, a passionate opera fanatic, attempts to explain the transcendent power of Maria Callas to an unseen listener. He argues that her voice is a litmus test for human emotion and a prerequisite for their friendship.

Jake's Women

by Neil Simon

Jake, a novelist struggling with a failing marriage and his own sanity, addresses the audience about the 'fresher hell' of his intrusive thoughts. He recounts childhood traumas and the realization that his mother didn't have all the answers, illustrating his current mental spiral.

The Lady and the Clarinet

by Michael Cristofer

Luba recounts a humiliating attempt to confront her ex-lover at his office, which resulted in her vomiting on his secretary's desk. She reflects on her lack of grace and her subsequent attempt to move on with a plumber.

Love and Money

by Dennis Kelly

Debbie recounts a series of increasingly erratic and disturbing acts of workplace sabotage and personal cruelty. The scene culminates in her describing a gruesome 'gift' sent to her boss, juxtaposed against her childhood dreams.

Asteroid City

by Wes Anderson, Roman Coppola

Dr. Hickenlooper enthusiastically explains the rare phenomenon of an Astronomical Ellipses to a gathered crowd. She balances scientific jargon with personal anecdotes, revealing her own permanent retinal damage from a childhood observation that sparked her career in astronomy.

Nightbitch

by Marielle Heller

A mother encounters a former colleague in a grocery store and delivers a brutally honest confession about the loss of her identity. She articulates the mental fog, physical changes, and existential dread she feels while balancing societal expectations of motherhood.

Nightbitch

by Marielle Heller

A mother reflects on the performance of being a 'good sport' for her husband while acknowledging a primal, monstrous identity growing within her. She realizes that her repressed rage and animalistic instincts have always been present just beneath her domestic surface.

Bad Santa

by Glenn Ficarra, John Requa

Willie writes a final, crude, yet oddly touching letter to 'The Kid' while recovering in the hospital. He explains his legal situation, the fate of his former partners, and his plans to visit the boy and his new guardian in the future.

Isle of Dogs

by Wes Anderson, Roman Coppola, Jason Schwartzman, Kunichi Nomura

Chief, a stray dog, recounts a traumatic memory of the one time he was adopted by a family. He reflects on his instinctive, violent reaction to a child's affection and grapples with his identity as a 'biter' who doesn't understand his own nature.

Moonrise Kingdom

by Wes Anderson, Roman Coppola

Scout Master Ward records a somber audio log reflecting on the first day of a search party for a missing scout. He grapples with his own anxiety and the low morale of his troop, ending the day with a desperate, whispered prayer for the boy's safety.

Ruben Guthrie

by Brendan Cowell

Ruben reflects on his traumatic boarding school experience where he was bullied for his interest in fashion. He describes the turning point when an older, cooler student named Corey unexpectedly became his protector.

Pygmalion

by George Bernard Shaw

Eliza Doolittle explains the profound realization she has had regarding her social transformation. She distinguishes between superficial accomplishments like speech and dress, and the deeper reality of how one is perceived and treated by others, specifically contrasting Colonel Pickering's respect with Professor Higgins's dismissiveness.

A Hundred Words for Snow

by Tatty Hennessy

Rory, a teenage girl, introduces herself and her late father, whose ashes she is holding in an urn. She reflects on the awkwardness of her name, her father's profession as a geography teacher, and the grim, frustrating reality of his recent funeral.

Love and Money

by Dennis Kelly

Debbie, an office worker, calmly recounts a series of increasingly violent and unhinged acts of sabotage against her workplace and boss. The monologue juxtaposes her mundane delivery with the disturbing nature of her actions, ending on a poignant childhood aspiration.

Daddy’s Heart

by Nannette Stone

Uncle Ed, a retired railroad engineer, sips milkweed wine and offers eccentric philosophical advice and future predictions to his grandniece, Mae. He touches on the nature of infinity, the character of Johnny Carson, and a series of increasingly bizarre prophecies for the coming decades.

United We Fall

by Julius Sharpe

Jo delivers a heated defense of her parenting to a social worker after a medical emergency involving her daughter. She confronts the judgment of those without children, detailing the overwhelming pressure and daily exhaustion of motherhood while demanding her family be allowed to go home.

Nightbitch

by Marielle Heller

A mother experiences a moment of profound existential crisis and dissociation while out at a restaurant with friends. She grapples with the loss of her former identity and the physical sensation of her repressed rage and ambition being buried under the mundane reality of motherhood.

Class Action

by Brad Slaight

Dennis, a highly intelligent student with an IQ of 176, addresses the audience about the isolation and bullying he faces in a standard school environment. He struggles with the irony of his mother's wish for him to have a 'normal' life while he is treated as an outcast by his peers.

The Grand Budapest Hotel

by Wes Anderson

M. Gustave reflects on the fading presence of elegance and civility in a world descending into chaos and war. His poetic monologue about the importance of the hotel's service ends in a sudden, weary realization of the futility of his efforts.

The Playboy of the Western World

by J.M. Synge

Christy Mahon marvels at his newfound status and physical appearance while reflecting on his transition from a lonely life of hardship to one of relative ease and admiration. He contrasts his past misery with his current vanity, revealing his growing confidence and the seductive power of his own myth-making.