Acting 1- Personal Monologues

Ever since I was a little girl, acting has been a part of me. I have always been considered the dramatic one of the family, and it wasn't always said in a positive manner. The fact was, I loved being dramatic. I loved entertaining, analyzing, and pretending. All parts of the acting world. Now, although I watched plenty of movies and movie musicals, I was never exposed to much live acting. Until my Sophmore year in High School when I had the opportunity to see Wicked in California. That event was the start of my obsession. What I didn't realize then was how much the world of theater and acting would help me learn and mold me into who I am today.

Needless to say, being in an acting class is something that I have wanted to do since I was little. Finally, in my final semester at school, I get to experience this joy. I have learned so much all ready! The first assignment we had in this class was to write a monologue about a life experience. I kicked around a lot of different ideas at first. Did I want to go deep, be funny, be serious, or creative? Then it hit me. something I hadn't thought about in years. I remembered the first time I ever performed in front of someone. My first piano recital. The feelings of nervousness, inadequacy, and downright terror, all came back to me in a rush. I remembered how, even though I was feeling all this, I had refused to let it show. I was determined to make it through and did all I could to save face in the moment. My nerves did there job and I forgot where middle C was. I remember freaking out inside but playing the song on a different set of notes, taking my final bow and sitting down. I was so embarrassed, but I didn't dare share it! I believe that is when I first became an actor. What a perfect story for my monologue!

Performing the monologue, I had a few of the same feelings that I had had all those years ago during my first recital. Because of this, it wasn't very difficult to play the part. It was, however, quite interesting to see and hear the different stories that everyone else came up with and the different styles of acting that were portrayed. Everyone seemed to have their own ideas as well about what is more or less difficult. Some said that it was easier to memorize a piece you wrote because you could put it however you felt. Others felt the opposite because it is a story that could be told many different ways and it is difficult to say it the same exact way every time. I think I agree with the second group. There were a few parts that I ended up telling slightly differently in my final performance. I had practiced so many times that this realization was a bit discouraging. However, I think that the way I wrote it was the way that I should have portrayed it in the final product. I had written and re-written the script so many times that I am disappointed that I was unable to perform it as I had prepared. This exercise has helped me to appreciate the pains that each playwright goes through to express their story in the exact way, with the exact feelings that they wish to portray. This is why it is so important to stay true to the wording of the script.