7 Best Alfred Sutro Monologues

The Open Door (Lady Torminster)

Category: Play Role: Lady Torminster From: The Open Door

Lady Torminster says

If we women had had a hand in the making of the language, how many words there would be to express our feelings towards the men we are fond of! Of course I love Jack. I’m cruel to him sometimes; and there comes a look into his eyes–he has dog’s eyes, you know–a faithful Newfoundland–I am certain that men don’t realise what marriage means to a woman! Dear funeral, am I not a good wife–shall I not remain a good wife, till the end of the chapter? Because there isn’t only Jack–there are Jack’s children. And isn’t it wonderful, when you think of it–here are we two, Jack’s friend and his wife, alone on a desert island–and we have confessed our love for each other, and we are able to discuss it as calmly as though it were rheumatism!

The Open Door (Lady Torminster)

Category: Play Role: Lady Torminster From: The Open Door

Lady Torminster says

I knew you were going to-morrow. Oh, never mind how! I knew. And I suspected you would be sitting up here to-night. So I came down, hoping to find you. I wanted this talk with you. And I extracted your confession–as though it had been a tooth. Why? Because it will be something to think of, in the dull days ahead. Because I knew that you loved me, and wanted to be told. Because your life lies before you, and mine is ended. Because I love you, and insisted that you should know. You leave me now, and I have no illusions. Paolo and Francesca are merely a poet’s dream. You will marry–of course you will marry–but this moment, at least, has been mine. Ah, the future! Strange little syllables that hide so much! I can see you, introducing your wife to me, a little shyly–I can see myself, shaking hands with her–and with you…. My boy is seven already–time travels fast…. But it’s good to know that you really have loved me, all these years….And I have loved you–ah, yes, I have loved you!… And, having said this to each other, we will not meet again–till you bring me your wife. I have loved you, and I love you, for the fine, upright, loyal creature that you are. I love you for loving Jack; and it is Jack’s great quality in my eyes that he has been able to inspire such love. And, my dear friend, let us not be ashamed, we two, but only very proud, and very happy. We shall go our ways, and do our duty; but we shall never forget this talk we have had to-night.

The Open Door (Sir Geoffrey)

Category: Play Role: Sir Geoffrey From: The Open Door

Sir Geoffrey says

What would you have me do? Go into the House? Thank you, I’ve been there. You spend your time on the Terrace or in the smoke-room till a muffin-bell rings; then you gravely walk into the lobby, where an energetic gentleman counts you as Polyphemus counted his sheep. Philanthropy! Well, I’ve tried that, but it’s not in my line. I’m quite a respectable landlord, but a fellow can’t live all himself in a great Elizabethan barrack. Town–the Season? Christian mothers invite you to inspect their daughters’ shoulders, with a view to purchase. I’m tired of golf and polo; I’m tired of bridge. So I’ll try the good sea and the open plains; sleep in a tent and watch the stars twinkle–the stars that make you afraid.

The Bracelet (Harvey)

Category: Play Role: Harvey From: The Bracelet

Harvey says

Now just listen. I’m going to speak to you -I’m going to say things -things that have been in my heart, in my life, for years. I’m not going to spare you, I’m going to tell you the truth, and the truth, and the truth! We’ve been married ten years. Oh, I know, we were neither of us very young. But anyhow the last five have been nothing but misery for me. Misery -do you hear that? You sitting there, calm and collected -not caring one damn for me -It is, and you know it. The mother of my children! Satisfied with that. Never a word of kindness, or sympathy. And as for -affection! Well, I need something more. And, look here, I’ll tell you. This girl has made life worth living. That’s all. I’d come home at night dog-tired, all day in the City -sick of it, Stock Exchange, office, and the mud and the grime and the worry -there were you, with a nod, ah, Harvey, good evening -and you’d scarcely look up from your Committee Report or your Blue-book, or damned pamphlet or other -I want my wife to care for me! I want her to smile when I come in, and be glad -I want her to love me! You don’t! the Lord, I’ve sneaked upstairs, gone in and had a peep at the children -well, they’d be asleep. I tell you I’ve been hungry, hungry, for a word, for a look! And there, in the schoolroom, was this girl. I’ve played it low down, I know -she’s fond of me. But I couldn’t help it -I was lonely -that’s what it was. I’ve gone up there night after night. You didn’t know where I was -and you didn’t care. In my study, you thought -the cold, chilly box that you call my study -glad to have me out of the way. Well, there I was, with this girl. It was something to look forward to, in the cab, coming home. It was something to catch hold of, when things went wrong, in that dreary grind of money-making. Her eyes lit up when they saw me. She’d ask me about things -if I coughed, she’d fuss me -she had pretty ways, and was pleased, oh, pleased beyond words, if I brought her home something –

A Marriage has been Arranged (Aline)

Category: Play Role: Aline From: A Marriage has been Arranged

Aline says

See, I will give you confidence for confidence. This is, as you suggest, my ninth season. Living in an absurd milieu where marriage with a wealthy man is regarded as the one aim in life, I have, during the past few weeks, done all that lay in my power to wring a proposal from you. Perhaps the knowledge that other women were doing the same lent a little zest to the pursuit, which otherwise would have been very dreary; for I confess that your personality did not–especially appeal to me. Indeed, this room being the Palace of Truth, I will admit that it was only thinking hard of your three millions that I have been able to conceal the weariness I have felt in your society. And now will you marry me, Mr. Crockstead? I have, of course, been debarred from the disreputable amours on which you linger so fondly; but I loved a soldier cousin of mine, and would have run away with him had my mother not packed me off in time. He went to India, and I stayed here; but he is the only man I have loved or ever shall love. Further, let me tell you I am twenty-eight; I have always been poor–I hate poverty, and it has soured me no less than you. Dress is the thing in life I care for most, vulgarity my chief abomination. And to be frank, I consider you the most vulgar person I have ever met. Will you still marry me, Mr. Crockstead?

A Marriage has been Arranged (Crockstead)

Category: Play Role: Crockstead From: A Marriage has been Arranged

Crockstead says

Lady Aline, I am a self-made man, as the foolish phrase has it–a man whose early years were spent in savage and desolate places, where the devil had much to say; a man in whom whatever there once had been of natural kindness was very soon kicked out. I was poor, and lonely, for thirty-two years: I have been rich, and lonely, for ten. My millions have been made honestly enough; but poverty and wretchedness had left their mark on me, and you will find very few men with a good word to say for Harrison Crockstead. I have no polish, or culture, or tastes. Art wearies me, literature sends me to sleep– I will pass, then, to more intimate matters. In a little township in Australia–a horrible place where there was gold–I met a woman whom I loved. She was what is technically known as a bad woman. She ran away with another man. I tracked them to Texas, and in a mining camp there I shot the man. I wanted to take the woman back, but she refused. That has been my solitary love affair; and I shall never love any woman again as I loved her. I think that is all that I have to tell you. And now–will you marry me, Lady Aline?

A Marriage has been Arranged (Crockstead)

Category: Play Role: Crockstead From: A Marriage has been Arranged

Crockstead says

I was the most unpleasant person you ever had met. The most repulsive–And who prided himself on his repulsiveness. Very true, in the main, and yet consider! My wealth dates back ten years; till then I had known hunger, and every kind of sorrow and despair. I had stretched out longing arms to the world, but not a heart opened to me. And suddenly, when the taste of men’s cruelty was bitter in my mouth, capricious fortune snatched me from abject poverty and gave me delirious wealth. I was ploughing a barren field, and flung up a nugget. From that moment gold dogged my footsteps. I enriched the few friends I had–they turned howlingly from me because I did not give them more. I showered money on whoever sought it of me–they cursed me because it was mine to give. In my poverty there had been the bond of common sorrow between me and my fellows: in my wealth I stand alone, a modern Ishmael, with every man’s hand against me.