What is a monologue really? It's just a person “talking”. However, the action of talking is far more about what's going on experientially between you and the person you're talking to than it is about the words you are saying. The words are a byproduct of the human interaction, not the cause of it.
When you start work on a monologue you have the words that will be said but you don't have the nonverbal interactions implied by those words. What you get from the script can indicate thought patterns, emotional responses, physical business, etc. but those to are also a byproduct of the nonverbal interaction between you and the person you're talking to.
So what exactly is this “interaction” and where do you find it.
Nonverbal interaction is the simplest form of human communication but it is also the most profound. It automatically happens when you find yourself in the presence of another person. If you're in a room by yourself and someone enters, you can feel it kick in. As soon as you sense them, what you are experiencing changes to include them. In turn this nonverbal interaction opens the way for all other kinds of interaction; physical, vocal, verbal, etc.
“Sensing” the people in the room is a prime example of nonverbal interaction. The words spring from this interaction. With out it the words will seem like an impersonal recitation. Your audience will feel that you are talking at them rather than to them. No one likes to be talked at, including casting professionals.
If you're finding this difficult to grasp, it's not because it's complex. It's because it simple. Let me give you a specific example of how sensing works with regards to performing your monologue.
Next: Why say it if no one is listening?
Labels: audition monologue casting director