The Meaning of Plants by Tara Meddaugh: A Dramatic monologue from the play, Brush Them Fleas
If you’re looking for a dramatic (slightly comedic) monologue from a full-length play, check out my 2-minute or 1-minute version of the monologue, The Meaning of Plants from the absurdist comedy, Brush Them Fleas. In it, Stacy expresses her disdain for pretty flowers which hold meaning from the giver (like, “I love you,” “I’m sorry” or “you died”). She prefers the brightness and freedom of dandelions, but most of all, she loves potatoes. Their existence is hidden below the common world, but while humble, is very important.
Stacy is not entirely unlike the humble, but important potato, lying undiscovered. She is a hard working employee at a dog grooming salon. She’s awkward, a bit uncomfortable in her own skin. She endures harassment and lies from another employee, but has found Mr. Boland, the client she speaks to about plants, to be an unassuming, gentle soul. Through the play, Brush Them Fleas, Stacy struggles against accusations and lies, and ultimately finds her own voice and strength. Click here to read the full-length absurdist comedy, Brush Them Fleas or an excerpt from the play.
This monologue has a 1-minute version here (which ends before Stacy speaks about potatoes), as well as a longer 2-minute version here, including her musings on the potato.
Learn the brief description of the play, Brush Them Fleas, from which this monologue comes, then enjoy and excerpt below from the monologue, The Meaning of Plants.
About the absurdist comedy, Brush Them Fleas:
BRUSH THEM FLEAS
As the owner of a high-end dog grooming salon, Tootsie takes great pride in presenting an upstanding establishment. Yet when Mr. Boland's dog is murdered on site, it stirs up ill feelings and suspicion amongst the staff and clients. Through the commotion, however, Mr. Boland discovers a rare connection with an awkward dog groomer, Stacy, who thinks he may give meaning to her past. And who killed Mr. Boland’s dog?
This is an absurd comedy play for 6 actors (4 female,/2 male, or 5 female/1 male), with a running time of approximately 70 minutes.
EXCERPT FROM THE MEANING OF PLANTS
STACY
I guess, um, I know about plants. I took a class about them once and I started planting my own little garden. I’m not too big on pretty flowers. They frighten me… They always mean something. They mean, “I’m sorry or “I love you”… or… you died.
(pause)
I do like dandelions though. They don’t mean anything. No one gives dandelions to someone else. They grow as much as they want to and they make your hands turn brown when you pick them, and they don’t smell or even look that pretty. But, I like them. Because if you have enough of them, in your hands or in a field, you have to squint your eyes to look at them—they’re so bright. And when they get old, they—END OF EXCERPT
Click below for the digital download of the 2-minute monologue, The Meaning of Plants.