Neverhere

so, when I was at the movies yesterday I had this realization that all of my monologues are strong character, full of energy. I didn't have a Perks of Being a Wallflower character! So, does anyone know of any scripts that have a male wallflower character?

EmmyBet

Well, this is an interesting idea, but my opinion is that your monologues should all be strong characters. This doesn't mean necessarily in-your-face, ranting and raving, etc., but with a very strong situation and emotional depth that shows you can portray it. This could be someone who is hurting, is painfully shy, is feeling rejected - all characteristics of "wallflowers," I suppose, but still "strong," in my opinion.

You remark that your monologues are "full of energy." That is a good thing. Remember, you only have a minute or two to show the auditors what you can do, and it probably isn't going to help you if your character isn't saying or doing much. We go to plays and movies and are thrilled with some of those quiet moments - all of the subtle emotions flowing across the eyes, all of the things we can imagine the character is thinking and struggling with - but in an audition situation you need to show a lot, fast.

If you characters are essentially different people and your monologues have different content, and meet the classical/contemporary and dramatic/comedic requirements, I'm sure your range will be quite sufficient. Just try to avoid either extreme - no yelling and screaming, and no sitting silently deep in thought, either.

TheRealKEVP

Im always very impressed when an auditioner can portray a character with a vulnerable side. Because very few actors are able to do that.

Having both your monologues be "full of energy" isn't necessarily a bad thing, but I'm afraid what you mean is that they both have the same KIND of energy, which may give the auditors the impression that you can only play one kind of character. Instead you do need to show that you can play different sorts of characters, and you should take advantage of the fact that you have two monologues to play two very different characters.

But I don't like to recommend monologues, you really should find those on your own. Think for yourself about what sort of "male wallflower" characters you have seen in plays. Or even movies. Are the movies you have been seeing based on plays? Or have the writers of the movies also written some plays?

KEVP

Neverhere

It's not that I'm using the same kind of energy, because I've got the angry teenager (Edmund from Long Days and Henry from Skin of our teeth), I've got the sexualized energy (Jeffery), I've got the in control cold energy (Satan from Last Days of Judas Iscariot) I've got crazy frantic energy (Prior from Angels) amd I've got enthusiastic energy (Benedick from Much ado). I'm just struggling to find that vunerable introverted teenager that plays well off my strong characters. I was think maybe to reread House of blue leaves?

EmmyBet

I am very weak in my knowledge of monologues, but for boys I would recommend reading "The Water's Edge" by Theresa Rebeck. There is a bit from a young man there that is "milder" than many characters - he's a hurt, sad teenager who tells what is mostly a very sweet memory, but a lot lurks below the surface. Maybe this is the kind of part you are talking about?