Best Monologues from The Best American Short Plays

by William W. Demastes, William W. Demastes (Editor)

Overview

(Best American Short Plays). This second volume of the best monologues from the Best American Short Plays series features a diverse selection drawn from the outstanding works from many of today's best American playwrights. In these monologues, the playwrights capture much of the flavors, feelings, and thoughts of American culture over the past several decades. The result is a collection of taught, engaging monologues offering fascinating perspectives. They are written with an eye toward the stage that makes them excellent source material for actors young and old alike. And they offer a freshness and directness that make them excellent companions for readers attracted to good, often quirky, and always engaging contemporary literature. Included in this volume are monologues by Billy Aronson, Bruce Bonafede, Victor Bumbalo, Clay McLeod Chapman, Yussef El Guindi, Steve Feffer, Catherine Filloux, Daniel Gallant, Madeleine George, Willy Holtzman, Paul Kuritz, Neil LaBute, Dano Madden, Theodore Mann, Donald Margulies, Susan Miller, Lavonne Mueller, Joyce Carol Oates, Carey Pepper, Joe Pintauro, Michael Roderick, Murray Schisgal, Paul Selig, and Nicky Silver.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781480385481
Publisher:	Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
Publication date:	09/01/2014
Series:	Best American Short Plays , #2
Pages:	298
Product dimensions:	7.70(w) x 5.20(h) x 1.00(d)

About the Author

William W. Demastes (Baton Rouge, LA) is Alumni Professor of English at Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge. He has published widely on modern theater and drama, including Comedy Matters, Spalding Gray's America, Staging Consciousness, Theatre of Chaos, and The Cambridge Introduction to Tom Stoppard.

Table of Contents

Introduction: Public Reflections of a Personal Nature William W. Demastes vii

Part I Monologues for Men

Excerpt from G.C. Theodore Mann 3

Excerpts from San Antonio Sunset Willy Holtzman 7

Excerpt from Show Victor Bumbalo 11

Excerpts from And Yet… Steve Feffer 19

Excerpts from Advice to the Players Bruce Bonafede 25

Excerpt from Reunions Billy Aronson 29

Excerpts from Pitching to the Star Donald Margulies 31

Excerpt from I'll Do It Tomorrow… Michael Roderick 35

Excerpts from Its Our Town, Too Susan Miller 37

Excerpts from Props Michael Roderick 43

Excerpts from Small Things Carey Pepper 49

The Hunchback of Central Park West Murray Schisgal 55

Undertow Clay Macleod Chapman 77

The Confession of Many Strangers Lavonne Mueller 83

Determined to Prove Daniel Gallant 131

Part II Monologues for Women

Excerpt from Ella Dano Madden 145

Excerpts from American Dreamer Lavonne Mueller 149

Excerpts from The Yellow Wallpaper Paul Kuritz 153

Excerpt from Such a Beautiful Voice Is Sayeda's Yussef El Guindi 167

Excerpts from The Lovers and Others of Eugene O'Neill Marla Del Collins 171

Excerpts from Karima's City Yussef El Guindi 187

Excerpts from The Most Massive Woman Wins Madeleine George 197

Excerpts from Props Michael Roderick 209

Excerpt from First Love Murray Schisgal 213

Excerpt from The Beauty Inside Catherine Filloux 215

Excerpts from Ten-Dollar Drinks Joe Pintauro 217

When I Was a Little Girl and My Mother Didn't Want Me Joyce Carol Gates 219

Totally Neil LaBute 225

Mystery School Paul Selig 237

Claire Nicky Silver 263

Credits and Permissions 279