6 / 10
It’s a late-story turn with approximately 20 minutes of showtime to go, a swerve that wasn’t set up in the early sections of the play, making it feel tagged on. Suddenly a play about a dream to become a horse jockey transitions to one about haphazardly becoming a dancer, and finding success in that arena. As a human, you’re happy he found his place and true calling, but as an audience member, you wish the show’s dramaturgy were stronger.
7 / 10
Beyond the overwrought, performative opening stretch of the work directed by Jessi D. Hill, Montano deserves credit for his messy-but-real coming-of-age tale set in the ’70s. Over 100 minutes, he shares how his pint-sized stature as a kid got him bullied and benched his West Side Story-inspired dreams of being a dancer. Once his mother took him to the Belmont Park racetrack, he was bent on a career of a different color. He’d determined he was born to be a jockey.
Small is back in a big way this summer! Following its 2023 production at 59e59 Theatres and productions around the country, the Penguin Rep Theatre production of Small, written by and starring Robert Montano. Watch in this video as he talks more about his journey to the stage and the support and inspirations he found along the way.
See what the critics are saying about Robert Monatno's Small, now officially open Off-Broadway at The Alice Griffin Jewel Box Theatre at The Pershing Square Signature Center. Read the Review Roundup here!
The Penguin Rep Theatre production of SMALL, written by and starring Robert Montano, has officially opened Off-Broadway at The Alice Griffin Jewel Box Theatre at The Pershing Square Signature Center. See photos from the red carpet!
The Penguin Rep Theatre production of SMALL, written by and starring Robert Montano, opens tonight at The Alice Griffin Jewel Box Theatre at The Pershing Square Signature Center. See production photos here!
Following its 2023 production at 59e59 Theatres and productions around the country, the Penguin Rep Theatre production of SMALL, written by and starring Robert Montano, will return to New York City for a limited engagement.
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