Experience on Performing Monologue- Jacob L

            This week our class performed a class monologue.  The objective was to choose a paragraph from the book/ play Fences by August Wilson.  We had a variety of choices to choose.  For myself, I chose a monologue about Troys part.  This part is very serious and frustrating part in the play for Troy.  Troy works hard for his money so he can support him and his family.  He wants his family to be safe and secure.  This whole play, Troy has dreamed of building a nice fence around his yard.  He wants to build a fence because he feels the fence will keep all the good in and the bad out (Outside of the fence).  For most of Troy's life, it has been very challenging for him.  For example, when Troy was young he was an incredible baseball player.  He loved the game and wanted to make it a lifetime sport for him.  He was also known as a hot shot.  Troy was going to play professional baseball but no, back then no Major League Baseball teams wanted any black people.  All the teams rejected Troy and ended his career right there. Segregation was a major part back in the past.  To this day, there is still some racism.

            After performing my part of Troy I felt relieved.  My experience was somewhat nerf-wracking.  This was my first time memorizing and performing in front of people.  I knew I could do it, just in the back of my head I was a bit nervous.  My character Troy was very pissed, serious, and mad.  He had a deep voice and was not joking.  He wanted the world to know his thoughts.  I showed emotion by pointing at the "darkness" showing that I am serious.  I used my hand to show like "come at me" when I said, "Bring your army, bring your sickle, bring your wrestling clothes.  I ain't gonna fall down on my vigilance this time."  I had to show that I was not afraid of anything even the darkness.  I did well on memorizing my part.  I felt that was the most stressful but felt pretty good after my act.  My first draft performing I was very nervous and did not show any emotion but defiantly improved on the final.  I feel like I should have shown more emotion.  I was more focused on memorizing my part than showing Troy's emotions.  First off, everyone else's monologues were very good.  The best one I thought was Cassidy's.  For example, she showed emotion that I never would have thought she could do.  She showed a different side of her by shouting at the top of her lungs and making a different voice almost like Troy's.  I think most people were nervous about showing there emotions since there are other people watching them.  All in all, after this performance I am feeling more confident for next time.