My work on the monologue scene

I was advised on Thursday last that the way in which I read Judy's letter to Christopher was more of me reading a letter rather than reading a monologue. I think I realised that this part was a monologue, but a couple of things I struggle with: 

I need to work on my projection, as I'm struggling to be loud enough over the Ensemble speaking their lines at the same time. I do think that my working on Vocal exercises has made me clear/louder, but I think this can still be worked on. 

Also, the letter is the piece I used for my audition. I think I have got into a 'rut' so to speak. I say it in the same way each time, and this takes the meaning away from the words. I began to think back to my A Level Literature, and the amount of time we spent analysing each word or syllable when analysing poetry. As studying poetry, and reading it well in an actors way are too different things, I began to think if there were an instinces where I had heard/seen and actor speak poetry. I watched Bright Star, especially the final scene where Abbie Cornish reads the poem the film is name after:

 

I then began looking at monologues in films. This is because as a visual learner, being able to see the scene once, twice even three times really helps me. 

I then popped a query into Google, not expecting much. I came across this site (50 Greatest Movie Monologues )from the magazine Film, and was surprised to realise I have actually seen quite a few of these scenes without realising their actually monologues (silly, I know). 

One of my favourite books and films is To Kill A Mockingbird (1962) starring Gregory Peck. Not only is Peck an incredible actor, but the speech itself is so brilliantly written. In this scene Peck's character Atticus Finch delivers his closing speech to the Jury:

So thats poetry, literature and film covered. I need to do some research on actual theatre work. One of the first actual plays that springs to my mind about letters is William Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing. However, so far I've been unable to find the specific scene.
I did find David Tennants version of Benedick's Soliloquy, but obviously this isn't the same scene. However, I do think Judy's letter is much like a Soliloquy in the sense that it is her digesting and trying to find understanding in her own action and those of others (Ed, Christopher and Roger).

In my next blog post I intend to cover how I am preparing for my part.

Works Cited

Hotton, M., 2013. Benedicks Solioquy. [Online]
Available at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PpoE0fxt1Mo
[Accessed 25 11 2013].

SparkNotes, Unknown. No Fear Shakespeare, Much Ado About Nothing. [Online]
Available at: http://nfs.sparknotes.com/muchado/page_2.html
[Accessed 25 11 2013].

Youtube, 2008. Famous Speeches: To Kill a Mockingbird. [Online]
Available at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k8TgqenWW0I
[Accessed 22 11 2013].

Youtube, 2011. Bright Star (Final Scene). [Online]
Available at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PHt8R3h7SwA
[Accessed 22 11 2013].

Youtube, Unknown. What's the difference between a soliloquy and a monologue?. [Online]
Available at: http://www.cliffsnotes.com/cliffsnotes/literature/whats-the-difference-between-a-soliloquy-and-a-monologue
[Accessed 25 11 2013].