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Theater Review: Small at The Old Globe
An extraordinary autobiographical story
This is the extraordinary autobiographical story of Robert Montano, who had a successful career as a jockey and then a mega-successful career as a dancer. He tells this story “in the round” at the Old Globe. I applaud the results, while remaining daunted by the prospect of a one-man show delivered in the round. The set is minimalist, with a few props dispersed to evoke key moments. He talks with us as if we were friends — as if, indeed, the whole world were friends.
Here’s the story. A small, 10-year-old boy gets bullied at school , so he prays that God will make him grow so he can face his bullies. Soon after, his mom takes him to Belmont Park where he catches the fever — not for gambling but for horses. Although his mother wants to keep him away from this den of sin, circumstances conspire for him to re-meet with his mom’s friend, a famous jockey who seems to him to be both everything a man should be — strong, courageous, kind — and also small. He believes he has found his calling. He begs and pleads and prays to be able to go back to the stables, but his parents are concerned for his physical and moral safety. After he finagles a visit, it is revealed that he has an innate gift with horses.
Despite his parents’ objections, he is allowed a summer job, and after paying his dues mucking stalls, he is finally allowed to ride a thoroughbred — a high-spirited breed that most riders work up to over years of riding. He survives that debut, a bit the worse for wear, and so earns respect. And then, with blood, sweat, and tears, he becomes a real jockey. And then and only then, God answers his prayer for a growth spurt. Now he starts praying just as fervently that God will make him NOT grow.
Montano’s narrates in the voice of his growing-up self (beginning at age 10 and moving up through his early 20s). He also plays all the important people in his life: his parents, neighbors, jockeys, and trainers. His impression of his sassy Latina mother is splendid, his artist father endearing, his mentor edifying, and the various neighbors, trainers, and jockeys just hilarious. His mercury-quick transitions are dazzling and sometimes dizzying.
This is a story of passion, pursuit, achievement, and loss, of devotion to family, and of the search for meaning. In this, Montano is Everyman. We can all relate to him — or at least, we can all want to relate to him, and the worldly virtues he embodies. But there is a spiritual dimension to the story as well: a man repeatedly knocking in the hope that the door will be opened to him. A man who fights against God's will as expressed in the playing out of events — sometimes in extreme fashion — then experiences profound change when he surrenders.
Worldly success is not the best measure of a life well-lived, and I think this is the next challenge that Montano is facing. He gives us many spiritual lessons in his very personal story. I thank him for it, and I hope to hear about his next great quest.
Here's something you might be interested in.
Theater Review: Small at The Old Globe
An extraordinary autobiographical story
Theater Review: Small at The Old Globe
An extraordinary autobiographical story
This is the extraordinary autobiographical story of Robert Montano, who had a successful career as a jockey and then a mega-successful career as a dancer. He tells this story “in the round” at the Old Globe. I applaud the results, while remaining daunted by the prospect of a one-man show delivered in the round. The set is minimalist, with a few props dispersed to evoke key moments. He talks with us as if we were friends — as if, indeed, the whole world were friends.
Here’s the story. A small, 10-year-old boy gets bullied at school , so he prays that God will make him grow so he can face his bullies. Soon after, his mom takes him to Belmont Park where he catches the fever — not for gambling but for horses. Although his mother wants to keep him away from this den of sin, circumstances conspire for him to re-meet with his mom’s friend, a famous jockey who seems to him to be both everything a man should be — strong, courageous, kind — and also small. He believes he has found his calling. He begs and pleads and prays to be able to go back to the stables, but his parents are concerned for his physical and moral safety. After he finagles a visit, it is revealed that he has an innate gift with horses.
Despite his parents’ objections, he is allowed a summer job, and after paying his dues mucking stalls, he is finally allowed to ride a thoroughbred — a high-spirited breed that most riders work up to over years of riding. He survives that debut, a bit the worse for wear, and so earns respect. And then, with blood, sweat, and tears, he becomes a real jockey. And then and only then, God answers his prayer for a growth spurt. Now he starts praying just as fervently that God will make him NOT grow.
Montano’s narrates in the voice of his growing-up self (beginning at age 10 and moving up through his early 20s). He also plays all the important people in his life: his parents, neighbors, jockeys, and trainers. His impression of his sassy Latina mother is splendid, his artist father endearing, his mentor edifying, and the various neighbors, trainers, and jockeys just hilarious. His mercury-quick transitions are dazzling and sometimes dizzying.
This is a story of passion, pursuit, achievement, and loss, of devotion to family, and of the search for meaning. In this, Montano is Everyman. We can all relate to him — or at least, we can all want to relate to him, and the worldly virtues he embodies. But there is a spiritual dimension to the story as well: a man repeatedly knocking in the hope that the door will be opened to him. A man who fights against God's will as expressed in the playing out of events — sometimes in extreme fashion — then experiences profound change when he surrenders.
Worldly success is not the best measure of a life well-lived, and I think this is the next challenge that Montano is facing. He gives us many spiritual lessons in his very personal story. I thank him for it, and I hope to hear about his next great quest.
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