A Montage of Monet by Threedumb Theatre Review
Written by Cathie for Theatre & Tonic
Disclaimer: Gifted tickets in exchange for an honest review
Which comes first the art movement or the painter? What should we recall, the art or the very fallible human? A Montage of Monet is a one man production based on the life of Claude Monet, which seeks to unveil the man behind the turpentine-stained curtain of history. Written by Joan Greening and directed and performed by Stephen Smith, this one man play has only one London preview before it heads to the Edinburgh Fringe.
We meet Monet in 1923, an old half-blind geriatric man who looks back fondly on his life. Although he proudly claims at the beginning that he doesn’t need a woman in his life, we very quickly see how untrue this misogynistic statement is. From his aunt’s bankrolling of his education to his first love Claudette and their wild life together to his second marriage to Elise and the impact of his daughter in law Blanche. While much of the play is centred around his playboy ways and perpetual life on the run from creditors as a penniless artist. In between personal anecdotes, we also hear his connections with fellow impressionist artists, including Renoir, Boudin, Pissarro among others. We see the defiance against the academic forms of art and the triumphs and lows of the impressionist movement. It is a very nuanced and rounded approach to every aspect of his life.
The set is quite a static artist studio where Smith sits and narrates the tale. The easel is cleverly projected on with a range of artwork and photographs of all the key moments, this is a wonderful detail which really feels immersive but the lack of writing/ not including the names of those portrayed, can mean that the audience is left unclear who is who shown throughout. However, it is a deeply effective form of showcasing the show and balances the details of the performance well. Stephen Smith does an admirable performance of bringing this titan of art to life in a fully rounded and flawed form, but still retaining much wit, charm and pathos for the historical figure. At 55 minutes, this is a tautly written show that quickly flows through Monet’s life without wasting time or going overlong.
This play is a love letter to all things Monet and a beautiful tribute to his impact on the world of art. If you are new to Monet, then this play is a great introduction to the artist and his work, and if you are a longtime admirer of Monet, then this play is as welcoming as your favourite book. If you are interested in learning more about Monet, celebrating his greatest works of art and having a fabulous night out at the theatre, then I thoroughly encourage seeing this play for you.
A Montage of Monet plays at the Clover Studio at Greenside @ Riddles Court this summer at Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
★ ★ ★ ★
