Monologue

Doyle Monologue from John Bull's Other Island

From John Bull's Other Island by Bernard Shaw

male · sarcastic · 2:03 min

Rehearse this freeFind more monologues
No: he's too lazy to take the trouble. All he has to do is to sit there and drink your whisky while you humbug yourself. However, we needn't argue about Haffigan, for two reasons. First, with your money in his pocket he will never reach Paddington: there are too many public houses on the way. Second, he's not an Irishman at all. (BROADBENT: Not an Irishman!.) Born in Glasgow. Never was in Ireland in his life. I know all about him. (BROADBENT: But he spoke--he behaved just like an Irishman.) Like an Irishman!! Is it possible that you don't know that all this top-o-the-morning and broth-of-a-boy and more-power-to-your-elbow business is as peculiar to England as the Albert Hall concerts of Irish music are? No Irishman ever talks like that in Ireland, or ever did, or ever will. But when a thoroughly worthless Irishman comes to England, and finds the whole place full of romantic duffers like you, who will let him loaf and drink and sponge and brag as long as he flatters your sense of moral superiority by playing the fool and degrading himself and his country, he soon learns the antics that take you in. He picks them up at the theatre or the music hall. Haffigan learnt the rudiments from his father, who came from my part of Ireland. I knew his uncles, Matt and Andy Haffigan of Rosscullen. BROADBENT (still incredulous). But his brogue!

About this piece

30s · disgust · identity · deception · cultural stereotypes · class distinction

Rehearse Doyle's monologue

Run it out loud with a spotlight that follows your voice, line by line, until it's off the page. Free to start, no credit card.

Rehearse freeStart rehearsing

More from John Bull's Other Island