Customer Reviews

Killer Monologues

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I ordered this book in hopes of finding what it promised...some fresh new material that could possibly give one "an unfair advantage" in the audition process. In spite of a few negative reviews I'd read on these pages, I chose to believe the positive ones because I had some important auditions coming up and I WANTED this book to be all it promised. I NEEDED it to be ~~ and it wasn't. I eagerly read every single piece and there was not one monologue appropriate for or worthy of a serious adult actor or actress, no matter what his or her level of experience. These might be "okay" for introducing high school students to drama. But with all due respect to Pierce and Onorato, as an acting teacher as well as performer, writer, and director, I just couldn't justify asking a student of ANY age to chose to commit to any of this material over the works of some of our great - and even not-so-great - playwrites.

This book has some good monologues in it, but its mainly a technique training book. ALSO.....ALL of the monologues are 2 minues and under - this is important for some actors to know.

First of all, to anyone perusing through here, it looks like most of the 5-star reviews are fake--notice how they say generic things like "I would recommend this to anyone, aspiring or professional" and they're by "A Customer." Secondly, no offense to younger reviewers out there, but it also looks like the other 5-star reviews are by younger, less experienced actors.

Honestly, DON'T LISTEN TO THIS GUY. He doesn't know the first thing about acting, monologues, or the auditioning process. First of all, take a monologue from a PLAY, not something some hack wrote. ANd if you do take a stand-alone monologue that someone wrote, make sure it's good. These are HORRIBLE! They're cheesy, hackneyed, uninteresting, melodramatic and general. Also, you CANNOT use stand-up comedy routines as a monologue!!! No, no no no no! Acting teachers across the world--the universe--would cringe at the things he tells you.

I've seen the video, too. Here are some additional tips:
1. a "prop" is not a person, especially not a person lying down on the stage. You shouldn't really use props in a monologue unless it's really simple, but even then. You also can't do a monologue to someone when you audition, though it's a good way to practice.

2. YOU CANNOT CHANGE THE WORDS! While it's helpful to paraphrase a monologue in the rehearsal process, you cannot--absolutely CANNOT--change the words of the playwright. You can cut them, yes, but you can't just make it up.

3. "Just making 'em laugh" is NOT an acceptable strategy!

Okay, I could go on, but basically, DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY! If you're a young person, check out monologue books by Craig Slaight--he knows his stuff.

I have the book and the video that came together and I found it very helpful. Where else will you find Monologues that are just a minute long. It's also nice because JP cuts to the chase and tells you what you what to focus on, as well as the strenghs of each monologue. I'm glad I have it.

This book was phenomenal!! J.P. Pierce writes his monologues just as well as he teaches them. It has helped me a lot in my acting and auditioning!!

I attendet J.P. Pierce's book signing at Barnes & Noble in Encino, California and was absolutly blown away with his seminar. He has a true understanding of monologues and performances. It was just wonderful to watch him and to learn so many small little tricks on how to improve a performance and see what a big difference they can make. I immediatly bought his book and video and now I'm also very impressed with his writing skills. I'm sure we will hear more from this guy and I wish him all the best with his screenwriting and his movie "Outside the Lines".

As a current student of J.P. Pierce, I feel that no one can even touch the surface of acting or presenting a monologue or piece of work as well as he can. He opens up a whole new way of seeing things. I would reccomend this book to any actor whether aspiring or professional.

This is the best Monologue book I'v ever seen! It has a great selection of Monologues that will make you laugh and cry. I highly recomond this book to all actors! It will make you "kill" at auditions. It was writtien by a great Teacher!

.P Peirce is one of my many acting coaches. This summer I went to New York to compete for an acting competion. We had divivsion. You had to cover 5 catogorys. One of the was monolouge. He helped me with my monolouge. Thwe monolouge I use was in this book. Its a great book!