ABSTRACT

First published in 1995. This selection of speeches of all types - serious and comic, realist and absurdist - is drawn from contemporary plays by English, American and European playwrights. The editors have set each piece in its context, presenting a useful resource for acting classes, contests, auditions and rehearsals.

chapter |2 pages

After Easter: Anne Devlin

chapter |3 pages

Belfry: Billy Roche

chapter |3 pages

Brontёburgers Victoria Wood

chapter |3 pages

Burn: This Lanford Wilson

chapter |2 pages

Decadence: Steven Berkoff

chapter |2 pages

Etta Jenks: Marlane Meyer

chapter |2 pages

Her Aching Heart: Bryony Lavery

chapter |3 pages

Here: Michael Frayn

chapter |2 pages

Hush: April de Angelis

chapter |2 pages

The Last Yankee: Arthur Miller

chapter |3 pages

Lettice and Lovage: Peter Shaffer

chapter |2 pages

Low Level Panic: Clare McIntyre

chapter |4 pages

Molly Sweeney: Brian Friel

chapter |2 pages

Oleanna: David Mamet

chapter |4 pages

The Pitchfork Disney: Philip Ridley

chapter |2 pages

Serious Money: Caryl Churchill

chapter |3 pages

Shades Sharman: Macdonald

chapter 6|2 pages

Six Degrees ofSeparation John Guare

chapter |4 pages

Talking Heads: Alan Bennett

chapter 10|3 pages

Tiny Fingers, Nine Tiny Toes: Sue Townsend

chapter 3|2 pages

Hotels: Jon Robin Baitz

chapter |3 pages

To: Jim Cartwright

chapter |3 pages

The Woman Destroyed: Simone de Beauvoir

chapter |2 pages

Women Laughing: Michael Wall

chapter |3 pages

Your Home in the West: Rod Wooden

chapter |2 pages

Play Sources

chapter |6 pages

Acknowledgements