NRR Project: Ruth Draper’s monologues
Written and performed by Ruth Draper
Recorded 1954-1956
Approx. 5 hours
Somehow the work of this extraordinary person has escaped me until now.
Ruth Draper (1884-1956) was a debutante and member of New York’s highest social circles. However, she had a gift for mimicry, an active imagination, and writerly skill. She began to perform self-penned short comic soliloquies in character for the amusement of friends and family. Gradually, she began to perform for pay. Instead of evolving into an ordinary actress, working in tandem with others, she maintained her independence and remained a solo writer/performer. Eventually, she would be the most powerful solo performer of her generation.
She crafted one-person playlets and performed them herself, using only a shawl, a chair, and a table as props. She was capable of immersing herself completely into the characters she portrayed, riveting audiences with her wholly realized performances. She was equally adept at comedy and drama. You can read Susan Mulcahy's excellent pieces on her life and work here and here.
Her closely observed incarnations were spellbinding. As a monologist, no one could touch her, and she served as the inspiration for future performers such as Lily Tomlin and Julie Harris. Such was her talent that she could evoke an entire world through the medium of solo performance. She created nearly 50 monologues in the course of her career, speaking in a variety of languages and accents. You can listen to her today and still enjoy her; her writing has remained fresh and universal.
The National Recording Registry Project tracks one writer’s expedition through all the recordings in the National Recording Registry in chronological order. Next time: Elvis Presley’s Sun Records sessions.
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