While contemporary American culture may be fixated on youthful sex appeal, the truth is that the most complex and interesting characters in dramatic literature have been (and still are) those over 40 years old.

Whether it’s Big Daddy in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof or Halie in Buried Child or Eve in The Good Body, the richest characters are those over 40, whose wealth of experience often helps little when it comes to making the difficult decisions.

This volume will mine the deep and fertile vein of world drama (with an emphasis on lesser-known contemporary work) as it relates to monologues for mature actors. The result is certain to be a surprising and enriching one for both the dedicated professional and the inquisitive amateur.