100 Monologues – Monologue #16: Running Away

100 Monologues is a project where I’m writing monologue scripts, performing, and filming the pieces. Since I’m beginning to dabble in acting, the project is meant as a means for me to acquire more acting experience where I can work on refining my craft. You can find out more about the project here.

Below is the script from “Running Away” monologue. The script isn’t exact to my performance above, but my performance is based on it. If you’re a student who would like to perform this monologue for class, just make sure you credit me, Maggie Coyle, as the author. For any other use of the script, please contact me.

100 Monologues: #16 Running Away

When I was a kid I used to fantasize about running away. I’d picture myself wearing a straw hat and carrying a knapsack over my shoulder – like the ones they show you in cartoons where they use a red handkerchief to bundle up your belongings and it gets tied to the end of a stick that you throw over your shoulder. I’d picture myself barefooted, walking off into the sunset on a desert or beach. I envisioned living a glamorous hobo life living in the woods, talking to nature.

And whenever my sister annoyed me or my parents snapped at me, I’d trudge to my room, slam my door, and swear I’d runaway. The furthest I ever got was around the block. I had packed my favorite doll, a handful of colorful marbles, and a granola bar in my teddy bear backpack. After a couple minutes of being a “runaway,” I ate the granola bar. Then a few minutes later I decided I was hungry for lunch so I went back home. I would “runaway,” I’d just have lunch first.

Review: Finding Your Voice

Finding Your Voice by Barbara HousemanI decided to take a look at “Finding Your Voice” by Barbara Houseman in hopes that it could help me with my acting technique. However, it looks like the target audience for this book are actors who have had a bit of voice work experience. For me, a beginner in this area, it was difficult to stay interested and keep my thoughts from wandering while reading through the first few chapters.

Overall some of the exercises seemed useful, and I liked Houseman’s description of how an actor should approach his or her craft with “quiet sureness.”

100 Monologues – Monologue #15: Dancing

100 Monologues is a project where I’m writing monologue scripts, performing, and filming the pieces. Since I’m beginning to dabble in acting, the project is meant as a means for me to acquire more acting experience where I can work on refining my craft. You can find out more about the project here.

Below is the script from “Dancing” monologue. The script isn’t exact to my performance above, but my performance is based on it. If you’re a student who would like to perform this monologue for class, just make sure you credit me, Maggie Coyle, as the author. For any other use of the script, please contact me.

100 Monologues: #15 Dancing

I’m not much of a dancer. What I really mean is that I don’t like dancing. I don’t know what it is about it that just makes me feel incredibly out of place. It just feels strange to me. I watch other people dance in public and I get embarrassed for them. Probably because dancing looks pretty silly – arms flailing and body jiggling. It looks unnatural. The majority of our day is spent sitting upright or walking from one place to another. Dancing is just going against what we normally do. It seems strange…I think there was a time when I was drawn to dancing. It looked like a lot of fun. But I was too self-conscious, too shy to ever bother with getting much practice on the dance floor. So maybe the way I see dance now is just a side-effect of timidly standing against the wall…watching…waiting…

100 Monologues – Monologue #14: Shy Girl

100 Monologues is a project where I’m writing monologue scripts, performing, and filming the pieces. Since I’m beginning to dabble in acting, the project is meant as a means for me to acquire more acting experience where I can work on refining my craft. You can find out more about the project here.

Below is the script from “Shy Girl” monologue. The script isn’t exact to my performance above, but my performance is based on it. If you’re a student who would like to perform this monologue for class, just make sure you credit me, Maggie Coyle, as the author. For any other use of the script, please contact me.

100 Monologues: #14 Shy Girl

I just get anxious sometimes when I’m around large groups of people. Or when I’m just around people. I don’t know…I just get all self-conscious and feel like everyone’s staring at me. Even though no one is probably even looking at me. I get this feeling like there’s some large mark painted on my face. And everyone’s staring at it, wondering what it is, and where it came from, and I don’t even realize that it’s there. Then I end just having this feeling that there’s something wrong with me and so I stand and I walk around just being uncomfortable in my own skin. And because I’m obviously uncomfortable, I think everyone else senses it and doesn’t like me because of it. And it makes me all the more self-conscious and closed lipped. It’s just a vicious cycle where I can never win.

100 Monologues – Monologue #13: What I’d Tell My Younger Self

100 Monologues is a project where I’m writing monologue scripts, performing, and filming the pieces. Since I’m beginning to dabble in acting, the project is meant as a means for me to acquire more acting experience where I can work on refining my craft. You can find out more about the project here.

Below is the script from “What I’d Tell My Younger Self” monologue. The script isn’t exact to my performance above, but my performance is based on it. If you’re a student who would like to perform this monologue for class, just make sure you credit me, Maggie Coyle, as the author. For any other use of the script, please contact me.

100 Monologues: #13 What I’d Tell My Younger Self

If I could talk to my younger self from about ten years ago, I’d tell myself not to worry so much. Don’t focus so much time and energy on what others think of you. You won’t see most of those people later in life anyway, why do you care now? It might seem like every interaction you have with your classmates is the most important thing ever. But years later the drama won’t matter anymore.

You know, you need to stop worrying about your appearance. And enough with the self loathing! There’s too much hate in this world and there’s no need to add to it by hating yourself too.

And another thing, stop trying to be such a perfectionist with your school work. I’m sure life right now just seems like one pop quiz after another. There’s more to life than final exams and midterms. You should explore other things. It’s great that you have your nose buried in the books, but it’s good to step back every once in a while and see what else life has to offer. And instead of thinking “one day I’ll grow up to be this or that,” you should actively act like that’s already your career. That way you’ll figure out if you get tired of it sooner rather than later.

You need to speak your mind more – even if what you have to say isn’t well thought out or intelligent. You’ll learn from your mistakes and if you never make mistakes, you’ll never learn or grow.

And lastly, love yourself. I know it sounds like a cliché but you need to love your awkward self. Stop being friends with anyone who makes you feel ugly – they’re not worth it. Feel comfortable about the skin you’re in and accept everything that makes you who you are.

100 Monologues – Monologue #12: Reality

100 Monologues is a project where I’m writing monologue scripts, performing, and filming the pieces. Since I’m beginning to dabble in acting, the project is meant as a means for me to acquire more acting experience where I can work on refining my craft. You can find out more about the project here.

Below is the script from “Reality” monologue. The script isn’t exact to my performance above, but my performance is based on it. If you’re a student who would like to perform this monologue for class, just make sure you credit me, Maggie Coyle, as the author. For any other use of the script, please contact me.

100 Monologues: #12 Reality

It’s surprising the way life just happens. Like how I always romanticized about what I’d do with my life. That I’d live the glamorous life of a star. My expectations were unrealistically high. Even in school, I was lost in this little bubble of hope that life after college I’d become a well known public figure. A fashion star. When reality finally set in, I refused to accept it. And I suppose I still do. Having the dream feel like it’s only an arm’s length away keeps me going. It gives me something to aspire to, even if it’s impossible to actually do.

100 Monologues – Monologue #11: The Break Up

100 Monologues is a project where I’m writing monologue scripts, performing, and filming the pieces. Since I’m beginning to dabble in acting, the project is meant as a means for me to acquire more acting experience where I can work on refining my craft. You can find out more about the project here.

Below is the script from “The Break Up” monologue. The script isn’t exact to my performance above, but my performance is based on it. If you’re a student who would like to perform this monologue for class, just make sure you credit me, Maggie Coyle, as the author. For any other use of the script, please contact me.

100 Monologues: #11 The Break Up

Ken broke up with me over the weekend. He hunted me down in the city – asked my friends where I was and what I was doing, almost like he wanted to join me (wherever I was). But instead of joining me he pulled me aside and dumped me. And there I was just having afternoon cocktails with an old friend who was visiting. And he ruined it. He ruined that moment. It was like he didn’t even care what he did and how public it was. Couldn’t he have waited until later, when we could be alone? Instead of dumping me in public and ruining my day. I was supposed to be having fun with friends instead of going home early in tears. I hate him for that. I hate that he can make me cry.

100 Monologues – Monologue #10: I Love You

100 Monologues is a project where I’m writing monologue scripts, performing, and filming the pieces. Since I’m beginning to dabble in acting, the project is meant as a means for me to acquire more acting experience where I can work on refining my craft. You can find out more about the project here.

Below is the script from the “I Love You” monologue. The script isn’t exact to my performance above, but my performance is based on it. If you’re a student who would like to perform this monologue for class, just make sure you credit me, Maggie Coyle, as the author. For any other use of the script, please contact me.

100 Monologues: #10 I love you

I remember how miserable I was before I met you. I was never able to stay with anyone for longer than a couple of weeks. I don’t know…I just think all the other men got tired of me really easily. And every time one of them would dump me, I would spend hours and hours, mourning my loss. Those moments seemed like such a waste of time. But now I know that every loss, every failed relationship, was just bringing me one step closer to you.

And now I’m truly happy. I can smile freely, contently, and happily. Thank you. You made me realize that love can exist, that it does exist. And I love you.

100 Monologues – Monologue #9: The Cheater

100 Monologues is a project where I’m writing monologue scripts, performing, and filming the pieces. Since I’m beginning to dabble in acting, the project is meant as a means for me to acquire more acting experience where I can work on refining my craft. You can find out more about the project here.

Below is the script from the “The Cheater” monologue. The script isn’t exact to my performance above, but my performance is based on it. If you’re a student who would like to perform this monologue for class, just make sure you credit me, Maggie Coyle, as the author. For any other use of the script, please contact me.

100 Monologues: #9 The Cheater

I fell in love for all the wrong reasons, which is such a cliché to say, but it’s the truth. Max made me feel like the only person in the room. It didn’t matter where we were – we could be in a crowded room and he’d make me feel like I was the center of attention – like the spotlight was on me. And then only later did I discover that once my back was turned he made dozens and dozens of other women feel like they were the only one in the room with him. I’d leave for a minute and he’d be busy giving his number out to other women. I suppose I should have seen it coming – I was attracted to him in the first place because of how…attractive he is – he’s incredibly handsome with beautiful brown eyes, a sharp smile, and great body. And that was it – there was no real intellectual connection between us. It was only a physical attraction. And when I found out he wasn’t dating me exclusively, I was a mess. I wasn’t expecting something like that to happen. But I should have known better…

100 Monologues – Monologue #8: Alone

100 Monologues is a project where I’m writing monologue scripts, performing, and filming the pieces. Since I’m beginning to dabble in acting, the project is meant as a means for me to acquire more acting experience where I can work on refining my craft. You can find out more about the project here.

Below is the script from the “Alone” monologue. The script isn’t exact to my performance above, but my performance is based on it. If you’re a student who would like to perform this monologue for class, just make sure you credit me, Maggie Coyle, as the author. For any other use of the script, please contact me.

100 Monologues: #8 Alone

Some people are terrified of being alone, but I’m not. I dunno, as a kid I had an incredible imagination and could spend hours and hours playing all alone. I’d spend time with friends too, it’s just for some reason I was perfectly happy and content with being alone. I’ve never been like one of those people that needs to constantly be surrounded by others. In fact, the mere thought of being constantly surrounded by people is exhausting.

There was a point in time when I was in high school, and whenever I was around other people I found myself hating myself. It was like being in a crowded room made me feel more alone than I’ve ever felt before. And I started getting depressed when I was actually alone. When I was around my so-called high school friends I felt like an idiot, like something was wrong with me. And these feelings would linger on when I was alone.

It took me a while to realize these friends of mine weren’t really friends. So I shed them and over the years I picked up new friends who were more kind hearted. And then I began to like myself again and started feeling okay with being alone.