These are the monologues that must be memorized.
All of the readings and monologues are included in the Audition Information Packet that is provided on the Home Page.
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Blanche Dubois: prepare the 2 monologues provided. You may also be asked to do a reading from the script. Those auditioning for Blanche should also be prepare to sing at least one verse of the 1930's/40's classic "It's Only A Paper Moon." It is to be sung a cappella.
Monologue #1
Blanche: Well, Stella--you're going to reproach me, I know that you're bound to reproach me--but before you do--take into consideration--you left! I stayed and struggled! You came to New Orleans and looked out for yourself. I stayed at Belle Reve and tried to hold it together! I'm not meaning this in any reproachful way, but all the burden descended on my shoulders.
You are the one that abandoned Belle Reve, not I! I stayed and fought for it, bled for it, almost died for it! ….
I, I, I took the blows in my face and my body! All of those deaths! The long parade to the graveyard! Father, mother! Margaret, that dreadful way! So big with it, it couldn't be put in a coffin! But had to be burned like rubbish! You just came home in time for the funerals, Stella. And funerals are pretty compared to deaths. Funerals are quiet, but deaths--not always. Sometimes their breathing is hoarse, and sometimes it rattles, and sometimes they even cry out to you, "Don't let me go!" Even the old, sometimes, say, "Don't let me go." As if you were able to stop them! But funerals are quiet, with pretty flowers. And, oh, what gorgeous boxes they pack them away in! Unless you were there at the bed when they cried out, "Hold me!" you'd never suspect there was the struggle for breath and bleeding. You didn't dream, but I saw! Saw! Saw! And now you sit there telling me with your eyes that I let the place go! How in hell do you think all that sickness and dying was paid for? Death is expensive, Miss Stella! And old Cousin Jessie's right after Margaret's, hers! Why, the Grim Reaper had put up his tent on our doorstep! Stella. Belle Reve was his headquarters! Honey--that's how it slipped through my fingers! Which of them left us a fortune? Which of them left a cent of insurance even? Only poor Jessie--one hundred to pay for her coffin. That was all, Stella! And I with my pitiful salary at the school. Yes, accuse me! Sit there and stare at me, thinking I let the place go! I let the place go? Where were you! In bed with your--Polack!
Monologue #2
Blanche: I loved someone, too, and the person I loved I lost.
He was a boy, just a boy, when I was a very young girl. When I was sixteen, I made the discovery--love. All at once and much, much too completely. It was like you suddenly turned a blinding light on something that had always been half in shadow, that's how it struck the world for me. But I was unlucky. Deluded. There was something different about the boy, a nervousness, a softness and tenderness which wasn't like a man's, although he wasn't the least bit effeminate looking--still--that thing was there.... He came to me for help. I didn't know that. I didn't find out anything till after our marriage when we'd run away and come back and all I knew was I'd failed him in some mysterious way and wasn't able to give the help he needed but couldn't speak of! He was in the quicksands and clutching at me--but I wasn't holding him out, I was slipping in with him! I didn't know that. I didn't know anything except I loved him unendurably but without being able to help him or help myself. Then I found out. In the worst of all possible ways. By coming suddenly into a room that I thought was empty--which wasn't empty, but had two people in it... the boy I had married and an older man who had been his friend for years. Afterwards we pretended that nothing had been discovered. Yes, the three of us drove out to Moon Lake Casino, very drunk and laughing all the way. We danced the Varsouviana! Suddenly in the middle of the dance the boy I had married broke away from me and ran out of the casino. A few moments later--a shot!
I ran out--all did!--all ran and gathered about the terrible thing at the edge of the lake! I couldn't get near for the crowding. Then somebody caught my arm. "Don't go any closer! Come back! You don't want to see!" See? See what! Then I heard voices say--Allan! Allan! The Gray boy! He'd stuck the revolver into his mouth, and fired--so that the back of his head had been--blown away!
It was because--on the dance-floor--unable to stop myself--I'd suddenly said--"I saw! I know! You disgust me!" And then the searchlight which had been turned on the world was turned off again and never for one moment since has there been any light that's stronger than this--kitchen--candle...
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Stanley Kowalski: prepare the 2 monologues provided. You may also be asked to do a reading from the script.
Monologue #1
STANLEY: Lie Number One: All this squeamishness she puts on! You should just know the line she's been feeding to Mitch--He thought she had never been more than kissed by a fellow! But Sister Blanche is no lily! Our supply-man down at the plant has been going through Laurel for years and he knows all about her and everybody else in the town of Laurel knows all about her. She is as famous in Laurel as if she was the President of the United States, only she is not respected by any party! This supply-man stops at a hotel called the Flamingo. She’s stayed there too. This is after the home-place had slipped through her lily white fingers! She moved to the Flamingo! A second class hotel which has the advantage of not interfering in the private social life of the personalities there! The Flamingo is used to all kinds of goings-on. But even the management of the Flamingo was impressed by Dame Blanche! In fact they were so impressed by Dame Blanche that they requested her to turn in her room-key--for permanently! This happened a couple of weeks before she showed here. Sure, I can see how you would be upset by this. She pulled the wool over your eyes as much as Mitch's!
Honey, I told you I thoroughly checked on these stories! Now wait till I finish. The trouble with Dame Blanche was that she couldn't put on her act any more in Laurel! They got wised up after two or three dates with her and then they quit, and she goes on to another, the same old line, same old act, same old hooey! But the town was too small for this to go on forever! And as time went by she became a town character. Regarded as not just different but downright loco--nuts. And for the last year or two she has been washed up like poison. That's why she's here this summer, visiting royalty, putting on all this act--because she's practically told by the mayor to get out of town! Yes, did you know there was an army camp near Laurel and your sister's was one of the places called "Out-of-Bounds"? Well, so much for her being such a refined and particular type of girl. Which brings us to Lie Number Two.
She didn't resign temporarily from the high school because of her nerves! No, siree, Bob! She didn't. They locked her out of that high school before the spring term ended--and I hate to tell you the reason that step was taken! A seventeen-year-old boy--she'd gotten mixed up with! And when the boy's dad learned about it and got in touch with the high school superintendent. Oh, I'd like to have been in that office when Dame Blanche was called on the carpet! I'd like to have seen her trying to squirm out of that one! But they had her on the hook good and proper that time and she knew that the jig was all up! They told her she better move on to some fresh territory. Yep, it was practickly a town ordinance passed against her!
Monologue #2 (This is the famous “Stella” scene, do NOT imitate Marlon Brando.)
STANLEY: Stella! [There is a pause] My baby doll's left me! [He breaks into sobs. Then he goes to the phone and dials, still shuddering with sobs.] Eunice? I want my baby.
[He waits a moment; then he hangs up and dials again] Eunice! I'll keep on ringin' until I talk with my baby! [An indistinguishable shrill voice is heard. He hurls phone to floor. Finally, Stanley stumbles half dressed out to the porch and down the wooden steps to the pavement before the building. There he throws back his head like a baying hound and bellows his wife's name: "Stella! Stella, sweetheart! Stella!"]
Stellahhhhh! I want my baby down here. Stella, Stella! Stella! [with heaven-splitting violence] STELLLAHHHHH!
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MONOLOGUE FOR WOMEN AUDITIONING FOR ROLES OTHER THAN BLANCHE:
(STELLA: ) Oh, Stan! I'm taking Blanche to Galatoire's for supper and then to a show, because it's your pok'r night. I put you a cold plate on ice. I'm going to try to keep Blanche out till the party breaks up because I don't know how she would take it. So we'll go to one of the little places in the Quarter afterwards and you'd better give me some money. Blanche is soaking in a hot tub to quiet her nerves. She's terribly upset. She's been through such an ordeal. [hesitantly] Stan, we've--lost Belle Reve! Oh, it had to be--sacrificed or something. When she comes in be sure to say something nice about her appearance. And, oh! Don't mention the baby. I haven't said anything yet, I'm waiting until she gets in a quieter condition. And try to understand her and be nice to her, Stan. She wasn't expecting to find us in such a small place. You see I'd tried to gloss things over a little in my letters. And admire her dress and tell her she's looking wonderful. That's important with Blanche. Her little weakness!
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MONOLOGUE FOR MEN AUDITIONING FOR ROLES OTHER THAN STANLEY:
(MITCH:) It's dark in here. I don't think I ever seen you in the light. That's a fact! I've never seen you in the afternoon. You never want to go out in the afternoon. Not Sunday afternoon. I've asked you to go out with me sometimes on Sundays but you always make an excuse. You never want to go out till after six and then it's always some place that's not lighted much. What it means is I've never had a real good look at you, Blanche. Let's turn the light on here. So I can take a look at you good and plain! [slowly and bitterly] I don't mind you being older than what I thought. But all the rest of it--Christ! That pitch about your ideals being so old-fashioned and all the malarkey that you've dished out all summer. Oh, I knew you weren't sixteen any more. But I was a fool enough to believe you was straight.
A Streetcar
Named Desire
Auditions
