“There’s Always Been Something Wrong” Audition Monologues for The Children’s Hour

Written by Ashleigh Gardner

June 14, 2018

Are you auditioning for Lillian Hellman’s The Children’s Hour in the fall? Take a look at these fantastic monologue suggestions, and find a monologue that’s right for you!

Auditioning for Martha Dobie

To The Test by Ricardo Soltero-Brown
Cynthia is in a meeting with Fox, Anne, and Denise for Cynthia’s annual evaluation. They are examining her teaching practices and asking her questions about her teaching style, noting that many of her students have low standardized test scores. The panel’s idea of teaching is very streamlined, eliminating the view that students are individuals with lives outside the classroom. They give their students answers during tests to ensure high scores. Cynthia, aghast at the scandalous way her colleagues treat their profession. Here, Cynthia responds to Fox’s insinuation that Cynthia has no idea what students need.

Get the Monologue Here

Fallbeil by Liz Maestri
Fritz and Sophie were once friends, but during the war, Fritz joined the Nazi army and Sophie, the resistance. Here, Fritz is questioning Sophie about her involvement with the White Rose—she has helped throughout the war by writing leaflets to encourage the rise against the Nazi occupation. All Fritz had wanted was for her to lay low, play along so as to not get hurt, whether she agreed to what was happening or not. Now, Sophie explains that she could not have stayed silent, knowing the terror that was happening all around. She knows the country is lost no matter who wins the war.

Get the Monologue Here

An Uncommon Language by Evan Guilford-Blake
Héloise is a talented sculpture from France who has been institutionalized by her husband John. Charlotte is a close friend of Héloise who values her talent. Charlotte frequently visits Héloise. Charlotte and another friend Ralph have just arrived back to London after a visit. They tried to sneak in some clay for Héloise, and watched first hand how she was punished. Charlotte is now confronting John and tells him exactly what life is like in the facility.

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Auditioning for Karen Wright

Brontë by Polly Teale
This monologue occurs shortly after the death of Anne’s brother, Branwell. The play depicts incidents both real and imaginary in the lives of the Brontë sisters and their brother Branwell. It moves backwards and forwards in time and is intermixed with characters from the Brontës’ novels. At this point in the play, Charlotte is enjoying much literary success following the publication of Jane Eyre. ANNE and Charlotte travel to London, but on their return their brother Branwell dies. A short time later, while Anne is sorting through Branwell’s clothes, Charlotte, who is trying to write, complains of the pressure she feels to deliver a second and further outstanding piece of work. The speech is made up of Anne’s response to this and then supplemented by a passage she has a few lines later in which she questions their need to write at all.

Get the Monologue Here

Desperate Territory by Jennie Redling
Preparations for a yard sale surround Georgia’s New Jersey backyard. She lifts a picnic basket which summons a memory of the first time her marriage appeared to be suffering because she and Michael chose to share her late parents’ apartment with her brother. A quarrel sends Michael out and she tries to explain to Ben how she fell in love with him.

Get the Monologue Here

Sky Lines by David-Matthew Barnes
Pressured by her husband to quit school, Venita confides in her neighbor and best friend, Maggie, why this is the last thing she wants to do.

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Auditioning for Mary Tilford

Playground by Wil Denso
In an attempt to get Jason involved with friends on the playground, his teacher, Miss Sheffield, has put Margaret and her friends in charge of a “welcome wagon” to invite Jason to play and feel more comfortable.  Jason barely looks at the girls as they talk to him, and does not take up their offer to jump rope. Margaret does her best to welcome Jason, but her efforts fall on deaf ears.

Get the Monologue Here

It’s a Pleasure to be Sad by David-Matthew Barnes
Cathy tells her boyfriend, Dawson, about a family secret.

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Slow by Keegon Schuett
Teenaged Lizzie loses it talking to Marsha, a popular girl she thinks is moving in on her boyfriend.

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Auditioning for Dr. Joe Carden

The Awakening of Kate Chopin by Rosary O’Neill
Louisiana. Oscar reminisces about when he knew his marriage had ended.

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Wishing Aces by Rosary O’Neill
Beau tries to phone his daughter at boarding school during the hurricane.

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Romance by Barbara Lhota
Mick, sitting in the chapel, explains to Miriam about how he was jilted at the altar today.

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Auditioning for Amelia Tilford or Lily Mortar

Taking Selma’s Car by William Shuman
Selma is a headstrong eighty-five-year-old woman who refuses to give up her independence. She is convinced that there is nothing wrong with her driving; however, there is substantial evidence that proves otherwise. Her children have been endlessly trying to get her license revoked and preventing her car from operating. Selma’s son Robert wants to take Selma on a tour of an assisted living facility. This is her response.

Get the Monologue Here

Retirement Tango by William Shuman
Max and Maxine are both retired actors who have been married for over fifty years. After an excessive amount of Max begging and persisting, Maxine has reluctantly agreed to read through and rehearse the play “The Gin Game.” Max dreams of touring Florida communities performing the play with Maxine. After a week of reading through the play it seems like Maxine is beginning to show true interest. However, every time Max asks her if she would be willing to perform it. She says no.  Max is frustrated and upset, so Maxine mentions her invitation to have an old friend named Andre stay with them. Max has gone inside to grab a snack and Maxine is left alone on stage.

Get the Monologue Here

Carl aka Karl by DT Arcieri
This is a short flashback scene from Carl/Karl’s memory. Carl/Karl marches to the beat of his own drum, much to his uptight and money-obsessed mother Edith’s dismay. In this scene, she begins by criticizing his choice of clothing and then criticizes his lack of ambition for continuing the family business and taking interest in its success. Here she is scolding him for not following in her father and grandfather’s footsteps like his twin brother James is doing.

Get the Monologue Here

Auditioning for Rosalie Wells and the School Girls

The Ninth Train by Jane Jeffries and Jim Jeffries
Sixteen-year-old Eva quietly tells her older sister, Analise, about a time when she went to the bakery and first met Merek, the baker’s son. She had tried to get a refund for a day-old roll and when he wouldn’t allow it, she threw it at him and hit him in the face. When she went back another day to buy bread, he had a complimentary note hidden in the bottom of the bag. That is how their friendship began.

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Chiraptophobia by Hannah Estelle Sears
Teenaged Julia is at the funeral of a friend who died as a result of an eating disorder. She’s alone with the coffin.

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Fractured by David-Matthew Barnes
After Anthony reveals to Wendy that he’s transferring to another school in the morning, she responds.

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Ashleigh Gardner received her AA in Theatre/Drama/Dramatic Arts from Valencia College and her Bachelors Degree in English Literature and Masters Degree in Literary, Cultural, and Textual Studies from the University of Central Florida. She is a playwright and an actor.
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