Question

DENNIS PLAY: The Bright Blue Mailbox Suicide Note GENRE: Drama TIME: 0:50 DESCRIPTION Dennis, a high school senior, has learned his friend attempted suicide. Dennis has been taught that suicide is a sign of weakness and a cop-out. ACTING HINTS The key to the monologue is Dennis' line, "You can even cry underwater." Why does he say that? It suggests it's something he's done in the past. Try pausing after the line as if Dennis considers sharing a secret, then chooses not to say anything. Instead, he retreats behind his "macho guy" wall. Do you agree with Dennis that guys aren't allowed to express sadness? How do you feel about depression? I don't get depressed. My dad says guys don't get depressed. You can be happy, or mad, but never depressed. (imitating his father) "Keep your chin to the grindstone Dennis." That's what he says. "People who work hard don't get depressed. Only lazy people get depressed." So I don't get depressed. I swim. When you're underwater, you can't hear anything and you don't have to talk to anyone. You don't have to hear about what you're supposed to do and not supposed to do. You can even cry underwater. Not that I would. Because I don't get depressed. But I'm a really good swimmer. Depressed? Me? Never.

          DENNIS
PLAY: The Bright Blue Mailbox
Suicide Note
GENRE: Drama
TIME: 0:50
DESCRIPTION
Dennis, a high school senior, has learned his friend attempted
suicide. Dennis has been taught that suicide is a sign of
weakness and a cop-out.
ACTING HINTS
The key to the monologue is Dennis' line, "You can even cry
underwater." Why does he say that? It suggests it's something
he's done in the past. Try pausing after the line as if Dennis
considers sharing a secret, then chooses not to say anything.
Instead, he retreats behind his "macho guy" wall.
Do you agree with Dennis that guys aren't allowed to express
sadness? How do you feel about depression?
I don't get depressed. My dad says guys don't get
depressed. You can be happy, or mad, but never
depressed. (imitating his father) "Keep your chin
to the grindstone Dennis." That's what he says.
"People who work hard don't get depressed. Only
lazy people get depressed." So I don't get
depressed. I swim. When you're underwater, you
can't hear anything and you don't have to talk to
anyone. You don't have to hear about what you're
supposed to do and not supposed to do. You can
even cry underwater. Not that I would. Because I
don't get depressed. But I'm a really good
swimmer. Depressed? Me? Never.

DENNIS
PLAY: The Bright Blue Mailbox
Suicide Note
GENRE: Drama
TIME: 0:50
DESCRIPTION
Dennis, a high school senior, has learned his friend attempted
suicide. Dennis has been taught that suicide is a sign of
weakness and a cop-out.
ACTING HINTS
The key to the monologue is Dennis' line, "You can even cry
underwater." Why does he say that? It suggests it's something
he's done in the past. Try pausing after the line as if Dennis
considers sharing a secret, then chooses not to say anything.
Instead, he retreats behind his "macho guy" wall.
Do you agree with Dennis that guys aren't allowed to express
sadness? How do you feel about depression?
I don't get depressed. My dad says guys don't get
depressed. You can be happy, or mad, but never
depressed. (imitating his father) "Keep your chin
to the grindstone Dennis." That's what he says.
"People who work hard don't get depressed. Only
lazy people get depressed." So I don't get
depressed. I swim. When you're underwater, you
can't hear anything and you don't have to talk to
anyone. You don't have to hear about what you're
supposed to do and not supposed to do. You can
even cry underwater. Not that I would. Because I
don't get depressed. But I'm a really good
swimmer. Depressed? Me? Never.

Added by Kenneth R.

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