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Monologue Overview

Character
Gender
Male
Playing Age
Early Teen, Late Teen, Young Adult
Style
Dramatic
Act/Scene
Act 1
Time & Place
Liverpool, Victorian England
Length
Medium
Time Period
Contemporary
Show Type
Operetta
Age Guidance
Youth (Y)/General Audiences (G)

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Context

Text

(Recite like speech)

PAPERS,

PAPERS,

ALL ABOUT THE LATEST GRISLY CAPERS.

NEWS,

NEWS,

GOOD FOR WRAPPING FISH UP IF YOU CHOOSE!

Please!

I’M A POOR LITTLE PAPER BOY.

I SELL THE LONDON TIMES.

WHEN NOT ON THE BREAD LINES,

I LIVE OFF THE HEADLINES

OF LOCAL MISFORTUNES AND CRIMES.

I WAS ORPHANED WHILE ONLY TWELVE

WHEN DAD DIED YESTERDAY.

AND NOW I AM HOMELESS

AND BATHLESS AND COMBLESS

WITH EVEN MORE GLOOM ON THE WAY.

LIFE IS TOUGH WHEN YOU’RE

BEST DESCRIBED AS POOR,

WITH A NEWSPAPER FOR

YOUR PILLOW.

WON’T SOME FOLKS HAVE ME

JOIN THEIR FAMILY?

NOT TO ROAM STREETS AND BE

WHERE SMOKE STACKS

(Coughing from smoke:)

BILLOW.

WHEN YOU’RE ONLY A PAPER BOY,

YOUR PROSPECTS AIN’T TOO HIGH:

YOU’LL BE THE RECEIVER

OF SCORN AND BLACK FEVER

AND EARN SO FEW COINS, YOU COULD CRY!

OH MY!

OH MY!

A POOR LITTLE PAUPER,

PAPER

BOY AM I!

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Links

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