Faustus Audition

Faustus Audition

As part of my audition unit and classical unit, we all had to perform a monologue out of 5 options to perform for Rachel. The Monologue that I chose was by Mephistopheles from Faustus. I decided to chose this monologue as when looking at others I was concerned at being able to pronounce Latin correctly from Choice 1 (Act 1 Scene 1). So i decided to not chose that option as i wouldn't feel comfortable and I wouldn't want that to reflect in my performance. I liked the look of option 3 of Mephistopheles as it is written in a persuasive manner and I feel I would be able  to perform that better and be able to portray that better than something that I don't feel comfortable reading and performing. 
The monologue I chose was:

MEPHISTOPHELES
Tut, 'tis no matter, man; we'll be bold with this good cheer.
And now my Faustus, that thou mayst percieve
What Rome containeth to delight thee with,
Know that this city stands upon seven hills
That underprop the groundwork of the same.
Just through the midst run flowing Tiber's stream
With winding banks that cut it in two parts,
Over the which for stately bridges lean,
That make safe passage to each part of Rome.
Upon the bridge called Ponte Angelo
Erected is a castle passing strong,
Within whose walls such store of ordnance are,
And double cannons framed of carvèd brass,
As match the days within one complete year,
Besides the gates and high pyramides
Which Julius Caesar brought from Africa.
(Faustus goes to leave)
Nay Faustus, Stay; I know you'd fain see the pope 
And take some part of holy Peter's feast,
Where thou shalt see a troop of bald-pate friars,
Whose summum bonum is a belly cheer
[MEPHISTOPHELES casts a spell.]
So, Faustus; now do what thou wilt, thou shalt not be discerned. 

Looking at this monologue, to help myself get into character and get into the true essence of the piece, I can see that the main themes to this monologue is persuasion. Mephistopheles is persuading and encouraging Faustus to go to Rome which is seen at the beginning of the monologue where Mephistopheles is telling Faustus to cheer up as Rome has a lot to offer and that there is a lot going on. Mephistopheles says 'I know you'd fain see the pope' meaning that Mephistopheles knows that Faustus would want to see the pope and is trying to persuade and encourage him to go to Rome. 

Bearing in mind all of the themes shown in this monologue it was down to me to then have this known and seen in my own performance and interpretation of the text.

In my audition I felt that I spoke with good RP and my diction and voice could be understood and was appropriate, however I am uncertain if I sounded persuasive enough and had this come through when I was speaking. I was worried about speaking the language correctly and not messing up what I was saying and going that wrong that I don't know if my performance came off too well as I was directed to look up from my script as much as possible and I am not too sure if I did that enough. I believe that if I had become more confident with what I was saying and reading that I would have been able to have included a more persuasive tone to my voice when reading the script. In that case as well being more confident with what I was reading I would then have been able to have looked up from my script more if I was more confident and knew it better. For future for when  it comes to actually audition for drama schools there would be no way that I would be able to have a piece of paper with my monologue on so I need to be absolutley certain with what I am saying and know it off by heart. This comes down to spedning  and dedication more time to learning these monolougues. For the purpose of this audition I was allowed my words but for a real audition for a drama school I would not be able to do this so learning monologus is what I need to work on and really focus on.