Monologue: Woman, 40s, Field Hockey Coach Type

This is a monologue from CORONATION by Peter Fenton for the role of MRS. LOWRY. CORONATION is a dark satirical teen comedy play that premiered at Newtown Arts Company in 2024. This 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.  © 2022 by Peter Fenton. All rights reserved.

About the Character:

MRS. CHRISTINE LOWRY (40s/Femme-presenting/Any Ethnicity) - Major Role. The dry-humored, sporty guidance counselor. She has called Dan into her office and won’t let him go until he realizes what he’s done.

About the Play:

A story of power, privilege, and visibility disguised as a teen comedy. When cornered by the no-nonsense guidance counselor, a charming but overlooked high school senior tells the story of how he hatched a scheme to manipulate the vote for Homecoming Queen in favor of his big-hearted longshot friend to settle a years-long grudge. His plan went horribly right.

MRS. LOWRY

What were you doing in October 1995?

DAN

Uh--I was negative twelve years old?

MRS. LOWRY

Thought so.

She opens a yearbook.

MRS. LOWRY

In October 1995, I was a senior at Chamber Stone High. Cheer captain. Student council president. Played field hockey. Take your pick, I see parts of myself in Janelle, Candice, Maria.

(Pause; smiles.)

And you.

It’s actually nice to know all these years later, high school hasn’t changed that much. You couldn’t pay me to figure out TikTok. But I know a thing or two about being seventeen.

I was our Homecoming Queen. Class of ‘96.

On scrim: A grayscale photo of a young Mrs. Lowry crowned Homecoming Queen.

Mrs. Lowry directs Dan to look at the page.

MRS. LOWRY

Christine Sawyer, that’s me.

DAN

God, did everyone’s hair look like that?

MRS. LOWRY

Yes. And someday, we’ll be making fun of your hair, too.

A pause.

DAN

Just write the detention slip.

MRS. LOWRY

You’re not getting detention. I called you in because I see an opportunity. I walked the halls of this school, too—power bangs and all—more invested than anyone should be in the race for homecoming queen, and for what? My plastic crown broke at some point in a box in my parents’ basement. But I know what it meant to me.

I was trying to find my place in the world, ready to knock down anyone I thought was in my way. As if somehow, that crown would change everything. Burn the system to the ground.

You did a bad thing.

A couple bad things.

But I know you’re not a bad person.

DAN

Excuse me. I am a chaos goblin.

MRS. LOWRY

Yeah, I don’t really buy that.

You’re a pain in the ass, for sure. But I see what you’ve done, and—and you may not think this, but I see so much that you could do. Because you have a real gift. Have you ever thought about making good trouble?

DAN

That’s not a thing.

MRS. LOWRY

It is. You might’ve done a bit by accident.

DAN

Um—?

MRS. LOWRY

Promise me you’ll think about it?

***

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.