Second contemprary monologue

My second contemporary monologue is  Little Sweet Thing by Roy Williams.

 

An engaging character is created by the amount of work the actor does pertaining to the character, the amount of experimenting and playing the actors does and also the amount of research done to develop a character.

Character Research

The name of my character is Jamal and he is 18 years of age.  My character is noticeable by is very loud tone of voice. His speech can be heard and recognised from afar off. Jamal really detest this habit of speaking loud but he cannot really help it. He has made so many attempts to speak in a lower tone, but is not consistent in doing so.  He has another habit of leaning his head in a very quick motion whenever he is speaking. 

One thing he really enjoy doing is spending time with his close friends. He lives in a North London community. It is seen as a deprived area by many people. He resides in a flat with his mother. His flat is on the third floor. The entrance for his flat is well secured. There is a black gate blocking the door in which has to be opened. Behind the gate, there is a black door. The buzzer for the flat doesn't work so the door is either knocked or the mail section used. In front of the door, there is a brown welcome mat, a bit dirty and the words, ‘welcome’ is faded. Inside the flat is painted pink which he dislikes.  Throughout the flat, the floor is boarded apart from Jamal’s bedroom..  Jamal dislikes his residence because he does not live close to his friends and he wants to move in a nice house instead of a flat. Jamal has lived here all his life and he is tired of the same old place. His favourite place in the flat is his room because that’s where he has alone time and space to think and also where he smokes his cannabis without interruptions. He detest going into the front room because his mom is always there watching Emerdale and Coronation Street, which he hates and he is full of joy when he has the flat for himself. In his bedroom, the wall is painted blue, with three posters of Chelsea football club on different parts of his room. He sleeps on a small mattress in the corner of his room with a play station controller on the bed. The play station console is under a small table beside his mattress and the television in which it is played  on the small table. Beside the television on the table, there is a grinder, 2 packets of cannabis, an half empty box of cigarettes and two red lighters. In the corner of the room behind the door, there is a small closet where his clothes are kept. He is very organized, so his clothes are kept by trousers, then shirts, then jumpers and then jackets. Parallel to the closet, on the other side of the room, his footwear are lined out by the brand. Firstly, there is Nike, Adidas, Gucci, Ralph Lauren, Vans, Puma and then his shoes for church and for special occasions. On the opposite side of his bed, he got his dresser draw where keeps his underwear. On top of his dresser draw, he keeps his perfume, deodorant, lotion, face cream, hair cream, etc.

At bedtime, he sleeps in a Chelsea FC kit, including jersey, shorts and socks. Most of the times, he dreams about playing for Chelsea FC and scoring goals in the Champions League. Also getting rich and helping his mom out of poverty.

He lives with only his mother because his father is in prison for being falsely accused for dealing in drugs. His mother works as a nurse in a North London nursing home.

 In terms of his background, His mother is from Jamaica, But his father his from Scotland and Jamaica. He believes in Christianity, but doesn’t practice the religion. He only read the bible and prays but doesn’t follow the commandments. In the past, He had a girlfriend called Angela who he dearly loved and appreciated and did everything he could to make her happy. She once loved him too, but apparently, she wants something that he cannot give. They went out for six months, but she was not happy with the way the relationship was going and she broke it off, but he was alright with it. This was because she had a lot going on in her life at the time and he wouldn’t have the amount of attention he would have wished for. When it comes to intercourse, he loves it. He is, I would say, addicted to sex.  He particularly loved the relationship he had with Angela, reason being, as he would tell his friends, the sex was good.

Jamal's family is very working class. With his mother working as  cleaner in a college, he doesn’t really get the pocket money he wished he could get, so as a result, he sells cannabis for his own benefit. He sells his cannabis at Five pounds a packet. At times, he might even get a thousand pound a day, depending on the amount he sells. He enjoys doing this because of what he earns and that way, he helps his mother, while she believes he has a part time job working in KFC.  Even though he loves doing what he does, he also has fear about it. He fears getting caught by the authorities, getting robbd or getting killed.

Jamal wishes he can live with his father again and wishes he has his father living with him, since he left things as been a lot more difficult.

There is one thing Jamal loves doing and cannot resist it. He loves playing football. He has a passion for it and plays for a local football team called Chesnut youth FC. H plays as a  Central Attacking Midfield.

Favourite Things

When it comes to his favourite things like the smell he loves, it has to be said that he loves the smell of gasoline.

Jamal’s style of clothes is modern. He wears new bought trainers, high tops to be exact, that are a bit loose on his feet to make them last longer.  His favourite foods are afro Caribbean dishes. He eats a variety of Caribbean meals because his parents worked in a restaurant previously. He rides a bike around to do his business because it gets him around quite easily. He is always riding around to get his business done quickly.

Biggest Mistake

The only mistake he made was lying to his girlfriend which resulted in her broken up with him.

Best Thing

The best thing that happened in his life for a short time was the relationship he had with his former girlfriend.
Now, most of all, he wants to get revenge on a boy called Ryan because he is always talking bad things about him.

First shakespeare monologue

                                                   Cymbeline by William Shakespeare

The name of the play in which my monologue was chosen is called Cymbeline,

which was written by William Shakespeare. The play is tragedy and romance
and it deals with jealousy and innocence. The date it was written cannot be
precisely stated, but it was first produced in April 1611.

A Brief Synopsis

A brief synopsis of the play gives the reader a clear understanding of what is
going on. In Cymbeline, Imogen, the daughter of the king Cymbeline, is in love
with a man who was raised in her father’s court called Posthumus Leonatus.
He is described by the people in the court as a man who possess exceeding
merit and martial skill. They secretly gets married exchanging jewellery as
tokens of love. Cymbeline discovered the affair and banished Posthumus
Leonatus because Imogen is his only daughter and her husband must be the
heir to the British throne and the king detest the idea for Leonatus to be the
heir. Cymbeline had two sons before Imogen, but they were stolen away by a
courtier banished for consipiring with the Romans. His name is Belarius.
Cymbeline’s wife, the queen, wants her arrogant son by an earlier marriage,
Cloten, to marry Imogen to get the throne when the King dies. She also plots to
kill Imogen and the king, Cymbeline, to secure his right to the throne. She tried
to make the court doctor, Cornelius to poison them, but instead, gave them a
drug which would make the person fake death before they awake.
Now, Posthumus Leonatus leaves England and travels to Italy to live with his
friend called Philario, where he meets Lachimo. Leonatus talks about Imogen’s
beauty nonstop which allowed Lachimo to challenge Leonatus to a bet, saying
that he can make her commit adultery with him and bring proof. If Lachimo
wins, he would get Leonatus’ ring and if leontus wins, he gets money and
consent for a sword duel in order to get his and Imogen’s honour back.
Lachimo goes to Britain and aggressively tries to seduce faithful Imogen, who
sends him packing. Lachimo hides away in a chest in her bedroom and when
Imogen goes to bed, he tries to steal Leonatus’ bracelet she got when they
were getting married. He also looked around the room and examines her
naked body. He returns to Italy convinces Leonatus that he seduced her.
Angrily, he sends two letters to Britain, one to Imogen telling her to meet him
at Milford Haven and the other to his servant he left behind, called Pisanio,
telling him to kill her when she gets there. He is distraught with the letter he
receives and showed her his letter revealing Leonatus’ plot. He gets Imogen to
disguise herself as a boy and went to Milford Haven to look for a job. She
changed her name to Fidele. He gives her the queens poison thinking it can
stop nausea.
Cloten finds out about the meeting and dressed himself in Leonatus’ clothes he
left behind to Imogen. He decides to go there and kill Leonatus while Imogen
watched, after he would rape Imogen on Leonatus’ dead body and drag her
back to the courts for marriage. Imogen’s Long journey to Milford Haven takes
her into the Welsh mountains, where she gets weak of hunger. Luckily, she find
herself at a cave in which he finds food to eat. The cave is home to Belarius
and his sons (Cymbeline’s kidnapped sons). They enter the cave and found
‘Fidele’. Leaving ‘him’ to eat, they are met by Cloten outside who insults them.
They duel and cut off Cloten’s head.
Imogen takes the poison and falls asleep. They think she his dead and places
Cloten’s headless body beside ‘his’. She wakes up and find Cloten’s body and
thinks it is Leonatus because of the clothes he was wearing.
They are determined to fight for Britain in the war against the Romans forces.
The queen dies.
Leonatus arrives with the Roman army and dresses himself as a poor soldier so
he can die. He gets imprisoned with Belarius’ sons (Cymbeline kidnapped sons)
and ‘Fidele’. Lachimo reveals his plot to‘fidele’ and how he tricked Leonatus.
Leonatus comes forward and agrees with Lachimo’s story and reveals himself.
‘Fidele’, seeing is Leonatus jumps on him, but gets pushed off because he
thinks it’s a boy. Pisanio comes and reveals ‘Fidele identity as Imogen. Belarius
reveals his sons’ identities as Cymbeline’s sons and they are placed in their line
of inheritance, while Imogen is allowed to marry Posthumus Leonatus. He
releases all the prisoners and made peace with the Romans and he organises a
great feast.
This play is a very well written play. It is classed in the comedies style and
genre. I have chosen to play Pisanio. He is a very good and innocent character
who helps the princess and he always have good intentions and it appeals to
me. He is a kind, loving character that would do anything to assist people in
need, because what he did for the princess was a big deal. The play,
Cymbeline, really appeals to me, reason being, it is full of confusions. A lot of
people were disguised consciously and not to their will. They were then
revealed which changed the climax of the piece and everyone gets what they
wanted. I love a happy ending. It shows that throughout the hardships of your
life, it can get better. This is the motive I get from this play.
Well, between the character and I, the similarities we have is that we are both
kind hearted people who loves to help other people when we can or when we
have the capability to do so. We think hard about situations when they arise
and we both get emotional if we need to be. Differences between the
character and I, I find none. We are a pretty similar people. I love this character
and I am really anticipating performing it. While performing this character, I
think the greatest challenge is that I have to be really emotional and try to get
the audience to connect with me. I feel like it is going to be hard to pace my
speech while getting my thought process flowing, but I think it will be really
enjoyable playing this character.

WHAT WILL I NEED TO WORK ON WHILE PLAYING MY CHARACTER

While playing his character, I think I need to physically work on not moving

about on while performing, but to ground myself and move with purpose. Also,
while speaking, I need to work fully on clarity and diction. I really have to
enunciate my words much better than I do and also to use different tones of
voice to portray my feelings confidently. Emotionally, while playing this
character, I must show I distraught I am and how I feel knowing i have to kill a
princess. I have to show how really distraught I am feeling.
This piece needs background research on where he lives, what he does, why he
feels upset, when does he feels upset, how he shows what he is feeling and
what will he do to stop feeling that way. This piece should impact the audience
and show them that not everyone got the heart to take lives. Some people got
a conscience and would rather help the person they are meant to kill. It should
connect to the audience and should allow them to feel sympathy for the
character. The audience should be able to connect to what the character is saying.

Second Shakespeare Monologue

My second shakespeare monologue is from Mark Antony and Cleopatra and that character I am playing is Antony. I have done research on the play and the background of the play to understand it more.The play was written in 1606-1607.

Antony and Cleopatra was set in 40-30 BC and it was set in Rome and Egypt. I have done research on the clothes they wear in the era and realised that the men were mostly topless and have cloths wrapped around their waste to cover their private part. On their feet, they mostly wear sandals or go barefooted.
The theme of the play is struggle between reason and emotion and the definition of honour.

The play is about a man called Antony, who at the start of the play moves to Egypt to be with the Egyptian queen Cleopatra, in which he finds himself torn between his duties in Rome and pleasure in Egypt.While in Egypt, he heard that his wife Fulvia died. He then  had to leave and perform his duties. As Shakespeare plays are, characters usually dies at the end of the play. In this case, Antony and Cleopatra both dies.
In this monologue, my character is a very noble soldier for Rome, so playing this character will demand me to be as noble as a soldier. Standing upright and strong, movements are supposed to be free on the legs and speak with  clear voice. Moving with purpose, body language to convey my thoughts and  my thought process should be seen at all times.

I have tried many ways to understand what the monologue is conveying. I read the monologue and realised I did not comprehend the monologue fully, as a result, I went online and found a Shakespeare translation site in which I defined every word in my monologue. Below, the left is my monologue in the Shakespearean language and below that is the translated version of my monologue. ANTONY                                   .Since Cleopatra died, I have lived in such dishonor that the gods Detest my baseness. I, that with my sword Quartered the world, and o’er green Neptune’s back With ships made cities, condemn myself to lack The courage of a woman—less noble mind Than she which by her death our Caesar tells “I am conqueror of myself.” Thou art sworn, Eros, That when the exigent should come which now Is come indeed, when I should see behind me Th’ inevitable prosecution of Disgrace and horror, that on my command, Thou then wouldst kill me. Do ’t. The time is come. Thou strik’st not me, ’tis Caesar thou defeat’st. Put color in thy cheek. Wouldst thou be window'd in great Rome and see Thy master thus with pleach'd arms, bending down His corrigible neck, his face subdued To penetrative shame, whilst the wheel'd seat Of fortunate Caesar, drawn before him, branded His baseness that ensued?   Come, then; for with a wound I must be cured. Draw that thy honest sword, which thou hast worn  Most useful for thy country. Translated Version by Spark Notes Since Cleopatra died, I have lived in such dishonor that the gods despise my disgrace. Though I have made conquests throughout the four corners of the world and sailed with fleets so large they looked like floating cities, I don’t have as much courage as a woman. I have less nobility than the lady who, by killing herself, says to Caesar, “Only Cleopatra can defeat Cleopatra.” You promised me, Eros, that should the ultimate moment arrive—which it has—when dishonor and disgust are inevitable, that upon my command, you would kill me. Do it. This is that time. You won’t be striking me down, but defeating Caesar. Call up your courage. Eros, would you like to look through a window in Rome and watch your master marching in Caesar’s victory parade, his arms crossed and tied, his head bowed in submission, his face red from shame, while the chariot of triumphant Caesar precedes him, putting the final stamp to his humiliation? Then come on. I must be restored to health by an injury. Draw your trustworthy sword, which you have used in such service to your country. Antony, my character, is a Roman soldier and is known as an hero of the first caliber. He gained his position of one of the leaders of the world by killing the treacherous Brutus and Cassius who had a plan to assasinate his predecessor, Julius Cesaer. Summary Mark Antony, one of the three rulers of the Roman Empire, spends his time in Egypt, living a life of decadence and conducting an affair with the country’s beautiful queen, Cleopatra. When a message arrives informing him that his wife, Fulvia, is dead and that Pompey is raising an army to rebel against the triumvirate, Antony decides to return to Rome. In Antony’s abscence, Octavius Caesar and Lepidus, his fellow triumvirs, worry about Pompey’s increasing strength. Caesar condemns Antony for neglecting his duties as a statesman and military officer in order to live a decadent life by Cleopatra’s side. The news of his wife’s death and imminent battle pricks Antony’s sense of duty, and he feels compelled to return to Rome. Upon his arrival, he and Caesar quarrel, while Lepidus ineffectually tries to make peace. Realizing that an alliance is necessary to defeat Pompey, Antony and Caesar agree that Antony will marry Caesar’s sister, Octavia, who will solidify their loyalty to one another. Enobarbus, Antony’s closest friend, predicts to Caesar’s men that, despite the marriage, Antony will surely return to Cleopatra. In Egypt, Cleopatra learns of Antony’s marriage and flies into a jealous rage. However, when a messenger delivers word that Octavia is plain and unimpressive, Cleopatra becomes confident that she will win Antony back. The triumvirs meet Pompey and settle their differences without going to battle. Pompey agrees to keep peace in exchange for rule over Sicily and Sardinia. That evening, the four men drink to celebrate their truce. One of Pompey’s soldiers discloses to him a plan to assassinate the triumvirs, thereby delivering world power into Pompey’s hands, but Pompey dismisses the scheme as an affront to his honor. Meanwhile, one of Antony’s -generals wins a victory over the kingdom of Parthia. Antony and Octavia depart for Athens. Once they are gone, Caesar breaks his truce, wages war against Pompey, and defeats him. After using Lepidus’s army to secure a victory, he accuses Lepidus of treason, imprisons him, and confiscates his land and possessions. This news angers Antony, as do the rumors that Caesar has been speaking out against him in public. Octavia pleads with Antony to maintain a peaceful relationship with her brother. Should Antony and Caesar fight, she says, her affections would be painfully divided. Antony dispatches her to Rome on a peace mission, and quickly returns to Egypt and Cleopatra. There, he raises a large army to fight Caesar, and Caesar, incensed over Antony’s treatment of his sister, responds in kind. Caesar commands his army and navy to Egypt. Ignoring all advice to the contrary, Antony elects to fight him at sea, allowing Cleopatra to command a ship despite Enobarbus’s strong objections. Antony’s forces lose the battle when Cleopatra’s ship flees and Antony’s follows, leaving the rest of the fleet vulnerable. Antony despairs, condemning Cleopatra for leading him into infamy but quickly forgiving her. He and Cleopatra send requests to their conqueror: Antony asks to be allowed to live in Egypt, while Cleopatra asks that her kingdom be passed down to her rightful heirs. Caesar dismisses Antony’s request, but he promises Cleopatra a fair hearing if she betrays her lover. Cleopatra seems to be giving thought to Caesar’s message when Antony barges in, curses her for her treachery, and orders the innocent messenger whipped. When, moments later, Antony forgives Cleopatra, Enobarbus decides that his master is finished and defects to Caesar’s camp. Antony meets Caesar’s troops in battle and scores an unexpected victory. When he learns of Enobarbus’s desertion, Antony laments his own bad fortune, which he believes has corrupted an honorable man. He sends his friend’s possessions to Caesar’s camp and returns to Cleopatra to celebrate his victory. Enobarbus, undone by shame at his own disloyalty, bows under the weight of his guilt and dies. Another day brings another battle, and once again Antony meets Caesar at sea. As before, the Egyptian fleet proves treacherous; it abandons the fight and leaves Antony to suffer defeat. Convinced that his lover has betrayed him, Antony vows to kill Cleopatra. In order to protect herself, she quarters herself in her monument and sends word that she has committed suicide. Antony, racked with grief, determines to join his queen in the afterlife. He commands one of his attendants to fulfill his promise of unquestioned service and kill him. The attendant kills himself instead. Antony then falls on his own sword, but the wound is not immediately fatal. He is carried to Cleopatra’s monument, where the lovers are reunited briefly before Antony’s death. Caesar takes the queen prisoner, planning to display her in Rome as a testament to the might of his empire, but she learns of his plan and kills herself with the help of several poisonous snakes. Caesar has her buried beside Antony.

The videos that Gary showed us on different people doing the Romeo Monologue has really showed me how harder I need to work when preparing for my Shakespeare monologue.  I saw the difference between all the performances and it showed me that I am no where close to the level I desire to be. One was by an by a well rehearsed and developed monologue. He was connected to what he was saying and it was very natural, but not only that I could see that he read and understood his monologue which was evident in the performance.
That is the kind of standard I want to my monologue to uphold. I have learnt I need to prepare much more with my monologue if I want it at that standard.
I also saw one with an amateur. He did the same monologue in his room. He was the complete opposite of the actor before. He had no emotional connection with the monologue and it look has if he had no idea about what he was talking about. I think he did no preparation on the monologue and it was transparent in his performance. For example: He placed his hands on his chin and tilt his head to one side trying to show that he his thinking. He should have literally think about what he his talking about to and it will automatically be shown anyway.

Gary showed us how similar some of us are to the amateur, and it actually make me think that enough work and research isn't being done on the monologue.
Now, I have done lot of research and work into my monologue and I understand my shakespeare my monologue.