Marian Scadden, author
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Kids Monologue of the Month

Tips for preparing a monologue:
  • Imagine the person you're speaking to. If you're supposed to be speaking to the audience, imagine who they are--friends? enemies? the doorman?
  • Imagine where you are and the things that are around you.
  • Create a set by using real objects that are handy--chairs, benches, fake tree, etc.
  • You can use real objects for props, too--book, wallet, football, etc.
  • Be expressive--get mad or happy or sad or just have some attitude as you perform your monologue.
  • Movement & Gestures--use them. Don't just stand still while doing a monologue.
If there are stage directions—in parenthesis—in the monologue below, use them or come up with your own. They're just suggestions. If a monologue has ellipses (three dots in a row), act as if you’re listening to someone else responding or speaking to you.
Break a leg! (That's theater talk for "good luck." It's bad luck to say "good luck" in the theater so you say "Break a leg!")

​Here's a monologue for Mar. Have fun!

Where's the remote?

​(possible set: a couple of chairs to create a couch, another chair on the other side of the couch; a small table to represent where the TV sits; person enters looking around) Hey! where’s the remote? (pause as though listening to someone) I am in here and I don’t see it. Where’s the remote? (looking offstage; brief pause as though listening) Look around? The remote is not supposed to be hiding (very brief pause) Okay, I’ll look around. (looks just with eyes and at the set pieces mentioned) I don’t see it next to the T.V. It’s not by the couch. It’s not on Dad’s chair. (looks offstage) Where’s the remote? (brief pause) I did look around (brief pause) I don’t have to move to look around (pause) I don’t want to search for it. Who had it last? (pause) I did not (pause) What movie? (pause) Oh, yeah (pause) Somebody must have watched something after that. Who was it? (pause) Nobody? You’re telling me that after I watched my movie that nobody watched T.V. for a whole hour while I was in my room? That’s impossible! Who has the remote? (pause) I do not (pause) No, I didn’t take it into my room (pause; looking behind couch) No, I didn’t let it fall behind the couch (pause; looking behind TV) Not behind the T.V. either (pause) Why would I put it in the kitchen? Somebody else has it. (sitting) I am going to sit here until someone brings me that remote! (pause) I am not going to read while I’m sitting here. I want the remote (pause) Go play? Please, I’m not a child. I want to watch T.V. (pause) So what if the T.V. can be turned on without the remote? I can’t watch T.V. without the remote. Nobody can watch T.V. without the remote. T.V.s and remotes go together, just like ice cream and hot fudge or hamburgers and fries or chocolate chips and cookies or soup and crackers. I’m hungry. Nobody sit in my chair. I am just going to the kitchen to get a snack and when I get back that remote better be here. (exits briefly; enters a step) Hey! who put the remote in the fridge?
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Marian Scadden, author of stage plays, fiction for young people, and other stuff