Even More Monologues for Women by Women (Paperback)

~ Tori Haring-Smith (Author) "(The model is standing on the deck of a cruise ship as the photographer approaches her.)..." (more)
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Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Nothing evokes as much dread and anguish from both actors and directors as the obligatory audition monolog. The "What-are-you-going-to-do-for-us?" call has all too often been met with the chronically abused Blanche DuBois or Sam Shepard response. Fortunately, publishers like Smith & Kraus and Heinemann have raised the monolog selection bar considerably in recent years, with contemporary collections that often address neglected constituencies like African Americans and women. As he did in his 1997 collection, Monologues on Black Life, Edwards (theater, Arizona State Univ.) addresses the paucity of relevant selections for modern black actors by offering a twist on the orthodox monolog compilation. The 50 pieces he assembles are original, including a beautifully elegaic six-part monolog play, "The Sorrows of Elva." Divided among half a dozen short story-like sections, Edwards's speeches are alternately raw and poetic, reflecting a wide diversity of ages, settings, and contemporary themes that are more individually complete and whole than the typically out-of-context three-minute speech. In the third installment of her popular "Monologues for Women by Women" series, Haring-Smith (English and theater, Brown Univ.) takes a more traditional approach. She gathers 57 selections that collectively represent the freshest and most vibrant assemblage of monologs for women by women now available in the contemporary, fringe, alternative, and international theater (the inclusion of playwrights outside the United States is new). Like Edwards's collection, the monologs included here are all over the emotional and social map. Haring-Smith also provides an extremely actor-friendly subject index that groups the speeches by broad subject headings like "Body Image and Issues," "Race and Ethnicity," and "Aging," among others. She also includes a useful section that offers tips for auditioning with a monolog and brief notes on each playwright. Both titles are most enthusiastically recommended for theater and acting collections at all levels serving the needs of black and female actors.DBarry X. Miller, Austin P.L., TX
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Description

Featured in this volume are a wide range of voices and characters with a more international focus.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Heinemann Drama (January 18, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0325002479
• ISBN-13: 978-0325002477
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.7 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,023,483 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good, March 14, 2007

By	B. W. (Kansas) - See all my reviews

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I bought this, hoping for some good pieces to work with forensics students, since my class is all girls. There are a few good pieces, but I would warn any high school teahers purchasing this that there is a lot of profanity and obscenity. Depending on your community, the recurrent themes of lesbianism and feminism might be a bit more extreme than comfortable. However, I think it is a good choice for adults looking for those hard-to-find female monolgues. Selections are, on average, slightly longer than in the preceding Monologues for Women by Women.