17 Suspenseful Monologues

Suspense is a powerful tool in theater. Who doesn’t want to keep the audience on the edge of their seat? Writers and directors can create entire plays or films that center on building suspense, ultimately paying off in the final scene. When you have only 1-2 minutes in a monologue to convey a scene or character, creating this world of suspense can be a challenge, but if you manage it, you’ll have your own payoff.

Here, I’ve compiled over 15 short monologues (and two 5-10 minute monologues) which cultivate a scenario of suspense, while conveying a memorable story and sympathetic character. From murdered ferrets, floods and fangs, to guns, sirens and fires—these monologues are sure to keep your audience leaning in.

Seventeen (17) Suspenseful Monologues
by
Tara Meddaugh

1. WHAT MY FANGS ARE FOR
   Sammy has squirrel blood on his face. And he’s excited to tell his mom why. But does she share his excitement? Or is she horrified by him?
   From the play, When Marshmallows Burn.
   Age range: Child, Teen, Adult
   Running time: Around 1 minute
   

2. F FOR FRIENDSHIP
   Michelle, holding a gun in her hand, rates the friendship of fellow mean-girl, Alicia. And Alicia is not scoring well…
   Age range: Teen
   Running time: Around 1 minute
   

3. FIND ME
   Yearning for her deceased husband, Elizabeth embarks on a chilling quest to bring him closer to her.
   Cast: Late teen/20s/30s, female
   Running time: Around 5-10 minutes depending on performance and staging
   

4. THIS HEAT IN MY BRAIN
   Sloane begs his victim to have sympathy for him, as he tries to cool the heat in his brain.
   Age range: Teen-Adult
   Running time: Around 1.5 minutes
   

5. SHELLEY KNOWS
   Louise, riddled with guilt after murdering Shelley in a fit of passion, fears this friend may be coming for her, from beyond the grave…
   Age range: Older teen through adult
   Running time: Approximately 1 minute
   

6. PIECES OF COAL
   Adele struggles to figure out if the eerie boy in her mirror is in pain himself, or has appeared to bring her pain.
   Age range: Teen through adult
   Running time: Approximately 1.5-2 minutes
   

7. BUDDY’S MOMMY
   Buddy’s mom imparts important last words to her son before the sounds of sirens get too loud…
   Age range: Adult
   Running time: Approximately 2 minutes
   

8. LOCKING THE STORE
   Clark is painfully smitten with Grace, a customer who has come into his gift shop. Now he just needs to convince her to tune the rest of the world out.
   From the play, Poorly Wrapped.
   Age range: Teen-adult
   Running time: Around 1.5 minutes
   

9. ENGULF THE EVIL ASHES
   Marta has endured the unimaginable. But burning hair may bring her freedom.
   From the play For My Silent Sisters.
   Age range: Teen-young adult
   Running time: Around 2.5 minutes
   Note: this monologue contains references to violence and human trafficking.
   

10. DINNER AT CANALE’S
    Vicky implores her husband to not confess to his cheating. If he does, she might be tempted to use the weapon lying on the table…
    Age Range: Older Teen through Adult
    Running time: Around 1 minute
    

11. FERRET ENVY
    Jyoti needs to explain why Julia’s ferret is dead. And why Jyoti would make the perfect replacement.
    Age range: Teen through adult
    Running time: Around 2.5 minutes
    

12. HER MOUTH IS MOVING
    Meghan has done something horrific and the horror and guilt of her own actions are haunting her…in the form of her dead victim…
    DETAILS: Around 1-2 minutes, older teen through adult, female
    

13. REMOVE THE ROCK, PLEASE
    What happens when the town mayor ignores Ashley’s sensible request? She winds up with blood on her Banana Republic dress, that’s what.
    Age Range: Adult
    Running time: Around 2.5 minutes
    

14. RISING FAST
    Elizabeth survived a major flood, but has to live through who did not.
    Age Range: Older teen through adult
    Running time: Around 2 minutes

15. WHERE’S YOUR HAND, CHLOE?
    Addison loses her friend, Chloe in the woods, and the grotesque Being she finds instead won’t back away from her.
    Age range: Teen-Adult
    Running time: Around 2-3 minutes.
    

16. DON’T CLOSE THE DOORS
    Abigail, a woman who has been dead for decades, desperately seeks Stephanie’s help to escape the closet in which she endures heartbreaking torture.
    Age range: Late teen-Adult
    Running time: 10 minutes
    *Note: This monologue refers to suicide.
    

17. BORINGEST. GHOST. EVER
    Ayla is pretty frustrated the ghost who visits her at night is sooooooo incredibly boring.
    Age range: Children
    Running time: Around 1 minute
    NOTE: This monologue is comedic/dramatic, but you can play up the dramatic suspenseful quality if the actor chooses.