New one-man show 'Small' races into OKC to tell intense true story: What you need to know
The title is "Small," but the new one-man show making its Oklahoma City run is big on intense drama, relatable themes and surprisingly action-packed storytelling.
Lyric Theatre is starting its 61st season strong out of the gate with the autobiographical off-Broadway hit written and performed by jockey-turned-dancer Robert Montano.
Oklahoma's official state theater is hosting "Small" at its Plaza District theater through Feb. 25 as an add-on to its five-show mainstage season.
What is 'Small' about?
Capably directed by Jessi D. Hill, Montano tells his own compelling, often harrowing and ultimately uplifting story about wholeheartedly pursuing a childhood dream — and then finding a new passion when that youthful dream doesn't work out.
Montano begins his "Small" story back when he was a tiny Puerto Rican/Italian boy growing up on Long Island, where he was bullied for his diminutive size and prayed for a growth spurt. His life and prayers change when his mother, Gloria, takes him to the famed Belmont Park racetrack so that she can bet on her pal, renowned Mexican jockey Robert Pineda, in the hopes of winning enough money for new tile flooring.
Young Bobby, as Montano is known as a child, is not only fascinated with the powerful horses, but he's also captivated by the small but strong jockeys who command the Thoroughbreds, along with the respect of the crowds.
Despite his mother's concerns about his safety, Bobby convinces Pineda to become his mentor, starts spending all his time behind the scenes at Belmont and sets his sights on becoming a professional jockey.
But even as he trains tenaciously, Bobby also starts growing unstoppably.
Although Pineda warns him to avoid purging and taking drugs, Bobby resorts to extreme measures to keep his weight under 108 pounds so that he can continue to race. He snorts cocaine, pops amphetamines called "black beauties," eats next to nothing and throws up what he does eat. He runs 17 miles a day, abuses diuretics and laxatives and attempts to sweat away any additional pounds in a steam room so that he can "make weight" and get back to the starting gate.
The show chronicles how Montano eventually discovered a love for dancing and performing that proved as thrilling for him as racing horses.
The star of 'Small' plays two dozen different characters
The creative team ably sets the scene for Montano's story in a cross-section of a horse paddock. The production features original set designs by Christopher and Justin Swader, props design by Buffy Cardoza, lighting design by Jamie Roderick and sound design by Brian Ronan.
Stage managed by "Curly" Karen Schliefer, "Small" runs a nimble 90 minutes with no intermission, and Montano gave a fast-paced and relentlessly physical performance at the Feb. 16 OKC show.
A dancer and actor, Montano's credits include the Broadway productions of "Cats," "On the Town" and "Kiss of the Spiderwoman," the Oscar-winning film adaptation of "Chicago" and the television shows "Sex in the City," “NCIS: New Orleans" and more. The native New Yorker previously appeared at Lyric in the OKC professional theater's 2011 production of "A Chorus Line."
Montano shows off his fleet feet, his mastery of movement and his impressive acting chops in "Small." He portrays two dozen characters, from himself at different ages and both his parents to his racing mentor and his snooty dance teacher at New York's Adelphi University. Although some of his portrayals are overly cartoonish — particularly his turn as a crude stable hand with an exaggerated Southern drawl — it's still riveting to watch him swiftly switch from one character to another.
Equally impressive but often hard to watch are Montano's torturous recreations of his desperate final days, weeks and months as a jockey, including when he frantically pulls out all the potentially deadly stops to lose 12 pounds overnight in his obsessive determination to ride in another race.
In spring 2022, "Small" had its world premiere with Penguin Rep Theatre, in Stony Point, New York, and in summer 2023, it debuted off-Broadway, where it was an immediate hit. Montano comes to OKC directly from People’s Light theater in Pennsylvania, and he already has more "Small" dates lined up around the country.
Lyric Theatre moved fast to bring "Small" to OKC so quickly after its world premiere, and local theatergoers and racing fans alike should bet on this horse before it gallops on down the road.
'SMALL'
When: Through Feb. 25.
Where: Lyric’s Plaza Theatre, 1725 NW 16.
Information: https://lyrictheatreokc.com.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Jockey-turned-dancer Robert Montano's one-man show 'Small' tells big tale
