The mono theme is designed to work with text terminals such as the VT220.
It supports a different scroll marker ("--more--"), I suggest the following for the more variable found in ~/.irssi/config:
more = "{more --more--}";
mono.theme
edit# default foreground color (%N) - -1 is the "default terminal color"
default_color = "-1";
# print timestamp/servertag at the end of line, not at beginning
info_eol = "false";
# these characters are automatically replaced with specified color
# (dark grey by default)
replaces = { "<>[]=" = "%_$*%_"; };
abstracts = {
##
## generic
##
# text to insert at the beginning of each non-message line
line_start = "%9%8 %n ";
# timestamp styling
timestamp = "$*";
# any kind of text that needs hilighting, default is to bold
hilight = "%_$*%_";
# any kind of error message, bold, flashing reverse text, ouch!
error = "%9%8%F$*%n";
# channel name is printed
channel = "%_$*%_";
# nick is printed
nick = "%_$*%_";
# nick host is printed
nickhost = "[$*]";
# server name is printed
server = "%U$*%U";
# some kind of comment is printed
comment = "[$*]";
# reason for something is printed (part, quit, kick, ..)
reason = "{comment $*}";
# mode change is printed ([+o nick])
mode = "{comment $*}";
##
## channel specific messages
##
# highlighted nick/host is printed (joins)
channick_hilight = "%9$*%n";
chanhost_hilight = "{nickhost %U$*%n}";
# nick/host is printed (parts, quits, etc.)
channick = "$*";
chanhost = "{nickhost $*}";
# highlighted channel name is printed
channelhilight = "%U$*%n";
# ban/ban exception/invite list mask is printed
ban = "%U$*%n";
##
## messages
##
# the basic styling of how to print message, $0 = nick mode, $1 = nick
msgnick = "<%9$0%n$1-> %|";
# message from you is printed. "msgownnick" specifies the styling of the
# nick ($0 part in msgnick) and "ownmsgnick" specifies the styling of the
# whole line.
# Example1: You want the message text to be green:
# ownmsgnick = "{msgnick $0 $1-}%g";
# Example2.1: You want < and > chars to be yellow:
# ownmsgnick = "%Y{msgnick $0 $1-%Y}%n";
# (you'll also have to remove <> from replaces list above)
# Example2.2: But you still want to keep <> grey for other messages:
# pubmsgnick = "%K{msgnick $0 $1-%K}%n";
# pubmsgmenick = "%K{msgnick $0 $1-%K}%n";
# pubmsghinick = "%K{msgnick $1 $0$2-%n%K}%n";
# ownprivmsgnick = "%K{msgnick $*%K}%n";
# privmsgnick = "%K{msgnick %R$*%K}%n";
# $0 = nick mode, $1 = nick
ownmsgnick = "{msgnick $0 $1-}%_";
ownnick = "$*";
# public message in channel, $0 = nick mode, $1 = nick
pubmsgnick = "{msgnick $0 $1-}";
pubnick = "%N$*%n";
# public message in channel meant for me, $0 = nick mode, $1 = nick
pubmsgmenick = "{msgnick $0 $1-}";
menick = "%8%_$*%n";
# public highlighted message in channel
# $0 = highlight color, $1 = nick mode, $2 = nick
pubmsghinick = "{msgnick $1 %9%8$2-%n}";
# channel name is printed with message
msgchannel = ":%U$*%n";
# private message, $0 = nick, $1 = host
privmsg = "[%_$0%_(%U$1-%U)] ";
# private message from you, $0 = "msg", $1 = target nick
ownprivmsg = "[$0(%_$1-%_)] ";
# own private message in query
ownprivmsgnick = "{msgnick $*}%_";
ownprivnick = "%_$*%n";
# private message in query
privmsgnick = "{msgnick %n$*}";
##
## Actions (/ME stuff)
##
# used internally by this theme
action_core = "%9 * %9$*%n";
# generic one that's used by most actions
action = "{action_core $*} ";
# own action, both private/public
ownaction = "{action $*}%9";
# own action with target, both private/public
ownaction_target = "{action_core $0}:%9$1%n ";
# private action sent by others
pvtaction = "%_ (*) $*%n ";
pvtaction_query = "{action $*}";
# public action sent by others
pubaction = "{action $*}";
##
## other IRC events
##
# whois
whois = "%# $[8]0 : $1-";
# notices
ownnotice = "[$0(%_$1-%_)] ";
notice = "-%_$*%_- ";
pubnotice_channel = "%_:%U$*%U%_";
pvtnotice_host = "%_(%U$*%U)%_";
servernotice = "%8 %8 -%_$*%_- ";
# CTCPs
ownctcp = "[$0(%_$1-%_)] ";
ctcp = "$*";
# wallops
wallop = "%_$*%n: ";
wallop_nick = "%n$*";
wallop_action = "%_ * $*%n ";
# netsplits
netsplit = "%R$*%n";
netjoin = "%C$*%n";
# /names list
names_prefix = "";
names_nick = "[%_$0%_$1-] ";
names_nick_op = "{names_nick $*}";
names_nick_halfop = "{names_nick $*}";
names_nick_voice = "{names_nick $*}";
names_users = "[$*]";
names_channel = "%_$*%n";
# DCC
dcc = "%_>>>%_ $*%n";
dccfile = "%_$*%_";
# DCC chat, own msg/action
dccownmsg = "[$0(%_$1-%_)] ";
dccownnick = "$*";
dccownquerynick = "%n$*";
dccownaction = "{action $*}";
dccownaction_target = "{action_core $0}:%_$1%n ";
# DCC chat, others
dccmsg = "[%_$1-%_(%U$0%U)%n] ";
dccquerynick = "%N$*";
dccaction = "%_ (*dcc*) $*%n %|";
##
## statusbar
##
# default background for all statusbars. You can also give
# the default foreground color for statusbar items.
sb_background = "%8";
# default backround for "default" statusbar group
#sb_default_bg = "%8";
# background for prompt / input line
sb_prompt_bg = "%_";
# background for info statusbar
sb_info_bg = "%8";
# background for topicbar (same default)
#sb_topic_bg = "%8";
# text at the beginning of statusbars. sb-item already puts
# space there,so we don't use anything by default.
sbstart = "";
# text at the end of statusbars. Use space so that it's never
# used for anything.
sbend = "";
topicsbstart = "{sbstart $*}";
topicsbend = "{sbend $*}";
prompt = "[%_$*%_] ";
more = "{ssb %F $*}";
sb = " $* %N %n";
ssb = "%N %n$* ";
sbmode = " %_$*%n";
sbaway = " (%_NA%n)";
sbservertag = ":$0 (change with ^X)";
sbnickmode = "$0";
# activity in statusbar
# ',' separator
sb_act_sep = "$*";
# normal text
sb_act_text = "$*%n";
# public message
sb_act_msg = "%9$*%n";
# hilight
sb_act_hilight = "%F%9$*%n";
# hilight with specified color, $0 = color, $1 = text
sb_act_hilight_color = "%F$1-%n";
};