Private Stories: Monologues For Young Actors Ages 8 to 16

The Ultimate Audition Book for Teens Volume XII111 One-Minute Monologues: JUST COMEDY!By Kristen DabrowskiReviewed by Scott Matthew Harris

A collection of original comedic monologues for teenagers, author Kristen Dabrowskis 111 One-Minute Monologues: JUST COMEDY is zippy and funny, although somewhat more helpful to girls seeking authentic material.

In her brief introduction, Dabrowski writes that as a professional actor, she can empathize with the difficulty young actors have in discovering monologues. After all, she reasons, most plays are written for adults.

She advises, A monologue should be immediate, active, and fun. You shouldnt mind having to say it over and over when youre practicing, auditioning, or performing it. Since each of the monologues in the book is no more than a minute or so long, her advice is well-taken.

Additionally, she gives tips to actors on choosing a monologue thats right for them i.e. trusting your instincts, making it active, deciding what you want, who you are talking to, how you feel about that person, etc. Finally, she encourages young actors to make strong decisions, saying commit to your choices, dont hold back!

Dabrowski takes her own advice, offering a wealth of funny, honest, and opinionated material for teenage girls in the opening half of the book. Topics covered in the Female Monologues section run the gamut from tongue-piercing and SAT scores to babysitting, regional accents, and the dreaded bad yearbook photo.

Unfortunately, the slightly disproportional number of female monologues (56) vs. male monologues (55) seems indicative of the authors comfort zone. While Dabrowskis voice is very real in the first section, the Male Monologues section at times seems a bit forced, with many of the monologues covering more stereotypical topics such as weight-lifting, sports, eating, etc.

Not that these boy-centric issues arent valid, but where is the teenage boy who loves comic books? Or the one who helps his grandfather? Or the one who wants to form a band? It seems as though Dabrowski could have applied a little more imagination to help readers with a Y chromosome.Not that its a complete wash. Several male monologues tackle less traditional topics, and one entitled Nice is actually a funny response/sequel to a female monologue from earlier in the book. The whole section just could have used a little more of this inspiration.Overall, teenage actors would do well to check out this book for a comedic monologue. Girls may just have an easier time finding one.Smith and Kraus Publishers, January 2008, paperback, 128 pages, $11.95.