I'm going to do my workup here on the blog for a monologue I'm doing tonight. This is my interpretation and may or may not be right for you- or me, as a matter of fact. The monologue if a male character from Neil Simon's Prisoner of 2nd Avenue. I've never seen the play or read the entire script so bear with me if I make some wrong assumptions.
MONOLOGUE SCRIPT:
You don't know the first thing I'm talking about. You don't know what it is to be in my place. You've never stood in line for two hours waiting for an unemployment check with a shirt and tie, trying to look like you don't need the money. And some fat old dame behind the counter screaming out so everyone can hear, "Did you look for a job this week?"
"Yes I looked for a job!"
"Did you turn down any work this week?"
"What the hell am I doing here if I turned down work this week?"
You never walked into your own building and had a ninety-one year old doorman with no teeth, asthma, and beer-breath giggle at you because HE's working. You've never been on your own terrace and gotten hit with a bucket of ice-cold ice water. I haven't forgotten that son-of-a bitch!
(he goes to the terrace door and looks up)
I haven't forgotten you, you son-of-a bitch!!!
I'm waiting for him. I'm just waiting for him. He's up there now, but one day he's gonna be down there, and I'm gonna be up here, and then we'll see. One cold, snowly day some son-of-a-bitch from this building is gonna be buried under three feet of snow. They won't find him until spring.
(yells up again)
They won't find you until the spring, you son-of-a-bitch!
He thinks I don't know what he looks like. I know what he looks like alright. I know what they all look like. I've got their faces engraved in my brain.
They can get your clothes Edna. They can get your clothes, your Valium, your television, you Red Label Whisky, your job, they can get everything. But they can't get your brains. That's my secret weapon. That and the snow.
I pray to God it snows tomorrow, I'll wait for him. I bought a shovel today, oh yeah. I live for it. I live for the first snow of the winter. He get home at five-fifteen, I checked with the doorman. I gave him a five dollar tip, it was worth it.
(yells up)
I know what time you get home, you bastard! Try using the service entrance, I got that blocked off too!
Do you have any idea, any conception of the impact of two pounds of snow falling from a height of fourteen floors. They'll find him in the garage.
(yells up)
They'll find you in the garage, you bastard! I know what you look like.
And if it doesn't snow this winter, I'll wait till next winter. I'm in no hurry, smart ass.
(yells up)
I've got nothing but time. Nothing but time, baby!
1. OVERALL OBJECTIVE- to get my power back
2. SCENE OBJECTIVE- to get you to be my ally.
3. OBSTACLES- There's a ceiling between me and my foe; I don't have a job; I don't have any money; there is no snow; my foe probably doesn't know I exist;
4. SUBSTITUTION- For the guy upstairs- in my real life there I have a brother-in-law who has done quiet well financially and he always tries to play the power trip on me. I'd like to drop a bucket of shit on him instead of snow.
5. INNER OBJECTS- I see that asshole brother-in-law dumping his shit on me.
6. BEATS AND ACTIONS
My character is depressed. He tries to regain his power by hollering at the ceiling.
7. Moment Before
Edna (who is on the phone) tells my character to stop moping. She's a lot worse off than I am.
8. Place & fourth wall
My 2nd Avenue apartment on the 14th floor in some nameless non-descript apartment building. The fourth wall is a windowless wall with cheap prints of fruit.
9. Doings
My character is eating a banana, talking with his mouth full and between bites.
10 Inner Monologue
I'll show that SOB upstairs. I'll show them all.
11. Previous circumstances
My character is to timid or wimpy to go upstairs, knock on the door and tell the guy off.
12. Let it GO!
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Ivana Chubbuck's Twelve Steps
I'm currently re-reading Ivana Cubbuck's "The Power of the Actor". If your passion is acting this is a 'must' read. She establishes the actor in any scene with 12 tools and then uses the 388 page manual to flesh out the use of those tools. The 12 tools are:
1. Overall Objective
2. Scene Objective
3. Obstacles
4. Substitution
5. Inner Objects
6. Beats and Actions
7. Moment Before
8. Place & fourth wall
9. Doings
10 Inner Monologue
11. Previous circumstances
12. Let it GO!
If you're really serious about your craft get the book and read, read, read it.
1. Overall Objective
2. Scene Objective
3. Obstacles
4. Substitution
5. Inner Objects
6. Beats and Actions
7. Moment Before
8. Place & fourth wall
9. Doings
10 Inner Monologue
11. Previous circumstances
12. Let it GO!
If you're really serious about your craft get the book and read, read, read it.
Saturday, September 4, 2010
Starting Actors Portal
Hi.
My name is Doc Whitney and today I'm starting Actors Portal, a place where you can get advice, opinions, stories, etc. etc. on a subject that I'm very passionate about- Acting.
I'm new to blogging so please excuse me if I screw up now and then. I also invite you to leave you opinions, ideas and thoughts about acting. I'm hoping that Actors Portal can be just that, a portal or open door into a wider thrilling world of acting, be that on stage, film, or TV.
Regardless of your level of expertise and/or training you are welcome here. Acting is spoken here.
My name is Doc Whitney and today I'm starting Actors Portal, a place where you can get advice, opinions, stories, etc. etc. on a subject that I'm very passionate about- Acting.
I'm new to blogging so please excuse me if I screw up now and then. I also invite you to leave you opinions, ideas and thoughts about acting. I'm hoping that Actors Portal can be just that, a portal or open door into a wider thrilling world of acting, be that on stage, film, or TV.
Regardless of your level of expertise and/or training you are welcome here. Acting is spoken here.
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