Monologue: College Age Woman, Nice Girl from Indiana Type

This is a monologue from I THINK WE'RE LOST  by Peter Fenton for the role of LINDSAY. I THINK WE'RE LOST is a dark comedy retelling of Peter Pan that is set to make its professional premiere in April 2026 with Pier Players at Theatre Exile in Philadelphia. his copyrighted monologue is free for use in audition and educational settings. The full play can be read on New Play Exchange or read a sample on this website. © 2023 by Peter Fenton. All rights reserved.

About the Character:

LINDSAY PLENCNER (22, Female, Any Ethnicity) A senior at a Catholic liberal arts college in Philadelphia with a prestigious literary career ahead and an upcoming wedding. A "nice girl from Indiana" inwardly buckling under the pressures of being a woman in the church. She is engaged to Connor's roommate, Eric.

About the Play:

A darkly comedic young adult remix of Peter Pan. In Philadelphia, when a despairing college senior processes his looming adulthood alongside a darkly comedic reimagining of PETER AND WENDY, he, along with his roommate's "perfect" fiancée, is pulled into Neverland through Peter’s seductive promises and Tinker Bell’s hidden agenda. With no one else to trust, the college kids band together as they work to resolve matters of their own identity and existential baggage as they uncover dark secrets lurking in Neverland's past.

CONNOR

Why’d you even follow me here?

A long, sobered beat.

LINDSAY

I’m a nice girl from Indiana.

Do you know how many types of lives you’re allowed to live when you’re a nice girl from Indiana?

One.

They don’t care that I’m graduating summa cum laude. They don’t care that I’ve got an MFA lined up at NYU. They don’t even care that I won all my college money at Miss Teen Indiana, for Christ’s sake. No. The only thing my town, my family seems to care about is that I met the love of my life at freshman orientation and we got engaged at the ripe old age of twenty-two. I love Eric, I don’t regret him. But there’s part of me that feels like no matter what else I do with my life, every step I take down that aisle, they get to think they won. And the worst part is maybe they did. I work twice as hard for half the credit to--

Do you know what it’s like?

To walk into a room full of men who are ready to snap your neck if you can’t prove right then and there why you’re worth listening to? I’m not even sure any of this is worth it anymore. So forgive me for not living up to whatever version of me you had cooked up in your head. I don’t know what you want from me. I’m just a nice girl from Indiana.

CONNOR

I’m sorry.

LINDSAY

Thanks.

CONNOR

I think we’re lost.

***

That's the end of the excerpt! If you want to read more from this play, go over to the plays page on this website. If you want to check out more monologues by Peter Fenton, there are a few on the blog.

Want to use it in an audition or in a classroom setting?

Be my guest! This material is free to use for those settings only. While I'd love to know that you resonated enough with my words to use it as part of your audition or class, you do not need to ask me permission. All I ask is that you credit me as the author and the play that it came from.

Want to perform it publicly or use it in a different way?

Please contact me and explain your situation. We'll come up with an agreement that makes sense and is fair to us both.