Monologue

A monologue (or monolog) is a speech by one person directly addressing an audience. An opening monologue is often a segment of stand up comedy, such as at the beginning of The Tonight Show.

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In a monologue, the actor need not be alone, however, none of the supporting cast (in theatre or film) speaks. When the actor is alone, perhaps thinking out loud, this is a soliloquy, not a monologue.

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There are two basic types of monologues:

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Exterior monologue: This is where the actor speaks to another person who is not in the performance space or to the audience.

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Interior monologue: This is where the actor speaks as if to himself or herself. It is introspective and reveals the inner motives to the audience. This is also a common device in stream of consciousness writings.

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The monologue is an artform in and of itself, but it has always been part of larger, dialogue-based, plays for its provision of another angle in relating to the audience and getting inside a character's inner life.

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Famous monologuists include Jack Parr, Bill Cosby, Lord Buckley, Spalding Gray, Mike Daisey, Eric Bogosian, Garrison Keillor, Greg Walloch, Jay Leno, and John Leguizamo.

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Speech: One might be looking for the academic discipline of communications....

Stand up comedy: A stand-up comedian or stand-up comic is someone that performs comedy in an informal way, talking to the audience with the absence of a fourth wall. It is usually done by one comedian and usually with a microphone. It can be done in comedy clubs, colleges, theaters, alternative venues--almost anyw...

The Tonight Show: The Tonight Show is NBC's long-running late-night talk and variety show, currently hosted by Jay Leno in Burbank, CA (near Los Angeles). The hour-long show premiered September 27, 1954 in a 90-minute format hosted by Steve Allen. The show features at least two guests each night, usually including ...

Monologue related Images and Photos (experimental)

Twilight Zone - Monologue	Twilight Zone - Monologue	Twilight Zone 'Monologue' T-Shirt - Black	Twilight Zone 'Monologue' T-Shirt - Black
The Twilight Zone Monologue T-Shirt	Marvel Comics Retro: Captain America Comic Panel Monologue I'm in Luck! (aged)