Alternative Shakespeare Auditions for Women (Theatre Arts (Routledge Paperback)) (Paperback)

~ Simon Dunmore (Author) "Shakespeare, and others, wrote for a theatre that had minimal sets and an audience that did not sit quietly watching - they reacted like a..." (more)
Key Phrases: Duchess of Gloucester, Duchess of York, Queen Elizabeth (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Like the companion volume for men, Alternative Shakespeare Auditions for Women brings together fifty speeches from plays frequently ignored such as Coriolanus, Pericles, and Love's Labours Lost. It also features good, but over-looked speeches from more popular plays such as Diana from All's Well That Ends Well, Perdita from The Winter's Tale and Hero from Much Ado About Nothing. Each speech is accompanied by a character description, brief explanation of the context, and notes on obscure words, phrases and references--all written from the viewpoint of the auditioning actor. It is the perfect resource for your best audition ever.

About the Author

Simon Dunmore is an experienced director and teacher. He is the author of An Actor's Guide to Getting Work.

Product Details

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Theatre Arts Book; 1 edition (January 16, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0878300767
• ISBN-13: 978-0878300761
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #347,824 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very usefull!, June 29, 2000

By	Lisa Worthington (Sydney, Australia) - See all my reviews

I found this book indispencable as an actress. Many auditions call for alternative shakespearian monologues and this book has many good monologues combined with essential study notes.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great guide to offbeat Shakespeare--- NO BALCONY SCENES!, April 16, 2001

By	Margaret P Harvey (Charlottesville, Va United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This book is attractive, sturdy and is formatted well. That being said, the content is equally stellar. The author knows a lot about each piece, and provides the background you need to make the character come alive at an audition, or just in your mind for reading. There are footnotes to the language that are useful, and the speeches themselves are constructed nicely and are good choices for any level of Shakespeare performer. MY only complaint, which isn't that important, is that the characters are not studied with as much depth as you would like if you were reading this book for literary pleasure. But it does give this book as an actors guide a sense of poetic freedom and freedom of creativity. Also good is the next volume "MORE Alternative Shakespeare Auditions for Women." Don't expect Juliet scenes or Beatrice monologues--- the "alternative" characters and speeches of Shakespeare get their 15 minutes! Recommended for anyone who has every wanted to be a Shakespeare "snob" at auditions and freshen up your Bard inventory. :O)