Beached by Kevin Hood

Brief plot synopsis
Maria who is seventeen is telling the story of when she was thirteen, got drunk and was had by a load of men. She broke out of the house one night because her dad locked her in the house to ironically protect her virginity. Maria is described as small, smart, streetwise and working-class with little sense of self worth.

Where did you get them from?
I found this monolgue in "The Methuen Drama Book of Contemporay Monologues for Women" which is a collection of stage monolgues from the past thirty years.

Why did you considered the piece?
The character in the monologue at first appears quite happy and confident but then we listen to what happened and how vunerable she is. It is also written finetically with an accent which would be interesting to try and would contrast to another chosen second piece.

How does it show your strengths as a performer?
To perform the piece effectively I need to create a 3D character with depth which I believe I can do well.

Were there any draw backs from choosing this piece? Could you find a solution to the issue
The use of the accent could be dificult and may distract me from the performance if I focus on it too much. The main solution is to practise the accent everytime I read or pactise it so that it becomes automatic without me needed to think about it.

Why did you eventually choose or not choose this audition piece?
I chose to do this monolgue becuase of the unusual relationship that she has to her father and other men. It is open to interpretation if she was hurt emotionally when she was "had" or if she is only worried about what her father would do to her if he knew.

What would be the contrast between this piece and others you have chosen?
This piece uses an accent which would separate it from the second piece. This is also contempary so to contrast the second could maybe be a classical monologue. The subject is also one of vulnerability and abuse so anothe could be happy, optomistic or light hearted.