The task we have been set is to write a monologue about a character that has featured in the last few lessons, Link, Vince, Carole or Mum from the extract from the novel Stone Cold. Or, if we don’t want to do one of them we can be someone who is currently living on the streets. We also have to write about the set, costumes, lighting, sounds and props that we could use to suit our characters personality and mood. The character I have chosen to do is a different homeless person. This way, I can invent the character myself and play them in a complete different way. I can give them any background and any personality. The personality I have chosen for my character is a strong one because they have been living on the streets for a number of years.
Costume, sound, lighting, set and props. The costume that I would have would be a simple one. Grubby shoes, torn jeans and t-shirt or jacket with dirt on it. This way I can show the audience what it can look like to live on the streets. I wouldn’t have any music for when I am performing, but I may just have daily noises such as traffic, pedestrians talking to indicate the location. As I would be on the streets at night time, I would just have spots of light to represent street lights, and it would be quite dim to represent the time of day. I would have a carrier bag of newspapers, maybe a sleeping bag. The set could also have a few leaves on to give the character something to do while they are talking to the audience, and I could also interact with the audience making the need for props less essential.
My character My character would speak to the audience as if they are telling a story. I would talk normal to them as if I am telling a story to a friend then get more angry when I start to talk about how they don’t know what’s it like to live on the streets. My character would move like a homeless person, they would have their head down, they would shuffle their feet, they would keep their hands in their pockets most of the time as they are cold, they’d be looking around all the time for maybe the police, or someone to ask for money. They could be scratching from nits or lice.
Monologue [See young boy holding placard. It reads: homeless, hungry, but human.] [Walks up to different people in the audience] Some spare change please? For a cuppa? To decorate my living room? [Goes CS] Of course, I live on the streets. I don’t have a room to live in. I don’t even live! I survive. My name’s Charlie, not that you care, and I don’t expect you to remember it. I came here [Takes hands out of pocket and counts on fingers] 4 years ago now. I came looking for adventure and did I get it? Yes, I did.
[Puts them back in pocket] How did I get here? Blame the parents. That’s what my mum used to say when she saw a kid doing something wrong. And yeah, I blame them for me coming out on to the streets. [Moves towards someone] My dad reckoned you could teach kids better things [Holds hand up, back facing their face] Like the back of a hand. [Moves hand towards them then stops before impact] He used to beat me. Ha-fucking-ha. [Goes back CS] Of course, I see you pass by me all the time. Like most, [Puts hand in pocket and fumbles while saying:] You fumble in your pockets for coins and find only paper. But do you give that? No. I’m worth only 10p or 20p to most of you. And I remember faces. To you, I probably look like all the others, indistinguishable from the rest of the faces covered in the crap of this city.
[Rubs hands together and shiver] Its cold isn’t it. Even though it’s summer. This place can be cold all year round; faceless, cold, uninviting. [Points to audience] But you lot wouldn’t know. You’re all nice and cosy in your nice warm homes surrounded by a loving family. [Starts to shout] You don’t know what it’s like on the streets. Not knowing when or what you’re going to eat next. Not knowing where you’re going to sleep tonight.
[Goes quieter] But hey, that’s homelessness. [Moves CSR and sits down] Being homeless isn’t missing your train and sleeping at the station on those crappy chairs. It’s like a disease, a cancer spreading. No one cares, why should they? If it hasn’t happened to you, it isn’t your concern. Like other diseases, you think you can get rid of it with drugs. It needs money, funding for a cure. We [Stands up and moves to DSR] Are the human cold. You know it’s there but you have to put up with it, pretend it don’t exist. Carry on with life.
Living like this makes me feel like life is a rollercoaster with no brakes, or I’m sitting in car that I have no control over. Impact is coming. Is it a waste? I don’t think my life is. If it was, I wouldn’t need your money, or guilt. They amount to about the same thing. [Goes into pocket and brings out some change, counts it out and throws it to the floor] 58p. 58p. 58 fucking pence. And that’s what you gave me during 3 days. [Picks it up then goes CS] Well it was nice chatting. I got to get to sleep.
Got an early start tomorrow catching you lot as you come out of Waterloo Station. If you pass by there you might see me and my dog. He, at least I think it’s a he, hasn’t got a name; these things are pointless on the streets. Can you remember mine? [Pause, waiting for an answer, throws arms up and turns away] Didn’t think so. No one cares anyway. Thanks for listening, been nice to talk to someone else. It makes a change. Just not the change I want.
