An informative solo show with flashes of charm, but lacking the dramatic brushstrokes to truly bring its subject to lifeSummary
Rating
Good
A Montage of Monet, written by Joan Greening and performed by Stephen Smith, offers a brisk 55-minute monologue tracing the life of Claude Monet. This one-man show, which also features music by Joseph Furey and projection design by Smith himself, aims to bring the great Impressionist to life in a direct, first-person narrative. While the piece is informative and engaging at times, it struggles to lift itself beyond the tone of an illustrated lecture.
Smith portrays Monet as an old man, reflecting on the key events of his long and often difficult life. The script covers all the major moments: artistic breakthroughs, personal tragedies and financial hardships, but does so with a restraint that borders on the clinical. There’s little in the way of dramatic interpretation or emotional insight. As a result, the work feels more like something you might encounter in a museum education programme than a fully realised piece of theatre.
Choosing to voice Monet directly without the support of other characters or perspectives is a bold decision. However, it exposes some weaknesses in both the subject matter and the text. The character as written comes across as rather unsympathetic: pompous, aloof, dismissive of other artists, and quite misogynistic. While that may be a reflection of the era in which Monet lived, the lack of commentary or contrast leaves the audience with little to hold on to emotionally.
Smith’s effort is commendable: delivering a solo show of this length is no easy feat, but his performance could benefit from greater variation in tone and energy. The portrayal of Monet in old age lacks nuance, and while the set is attractively dressed, none of the props are meaningfully used. The most striking visual element is the projection of Monet’s artwork onto an easel, which provides some needed dynamism, supported by subtle lighting changes to suggest mood shifts.
The decision to avoid a French accent is commendable (no one wants to veer into ’Allo ’Allo! territory), but the near-constant mispronunciation of French names and places is unfortunate, suggesting a lack of attention to detail and this at times jars against the otherwise earnest tone of the production.
This performance is billed as a one-off ahead of a run at the Edinburgh Fringe, with Smith also presenting other monologue pieces based on the works of Edgar Allan Poe. One can’t help but wonder whether the workload (there were several line stumbles during the performance) contributes to the general sense that the piece needs more development time.
A Montage of Monet has potential as an accessible introduction to the artist’s life, especially for audiences unfamiliar with his story. However, in its current form it lacks dramatic impetus and insight. A deeper investment in character, more theatrical variety, and a greater polish in delivery would elevate this into something richer and more rewarding.
Written by Joan Greening
Performed and directed by Stephen Smith
Music by Joseph Furey
Produced by Threedumb Theatre
A Montage of Monet has finished its run at the Studio at the New Wimbledon Theatre but can be found this summer at the Edinburgh Fringe
