Small Makes a Big Impression – George Street Playhouse

Jan 20, 2025 by Two Sues On the Aisle

By Two Sues on the Aisle, Susie Rosenbluth and Sue Weston

Everyone has a story, but few have the fortitude and determination of Robert Montano. His autobiographical play, Small, is a 90-minute one-man performance (without intermission) that recounts his journey from the racetrack to the Broadway stage. Montano possessed a relentless drive to succeed, struggled to overcome his addictions, worked through the pain, and accomplished remarkable achievements, fulfilling his dreams.

His story is inspiring and a cautionary tale, reminding us of the risks, sacrifices he took, and the cost of fame. Small, will be at George Street Playhouse until Sunday, Feb 2, 2025, one man’s story of raw determination.

Who is Robert Montano?

Montano was a man with a mission. Growing up in Queens, he was bullied because he was short. He prayed to grow. But everything changed after a trip to Belmont Park Racetrack in 1973.  Awed by how thousands of racing fans admired jockeys he decided to become a jockey. The ideal jockey is between 5′ 2” and 5′ 7” and weighs under 106 pounds, which was perfect for Montano at age 14. But as he got older, he began to grow and struggled to make the weight limit.

He shares the sacrifices he made, which included giving up ice cream (his favorite treat). The show introduces the cast of characters who shaped his life, whimsically becoming caricatures as he brings them to life. Montano begins with his parents, Gloria, a jewelry salesperson, and Salvatore, a professor of art at the Pratt Institute, and his idol and mentor, jockey Roberto Pineda, one of Gloria’s customers. Pineda, a native of Mexico, plays a pivotal role,  taking Montano under his wing, and cautioning him to act responsibly. But when Pineda moves away, Montano gives into the jockey mentality and abandons Pineda’s guidance. He begins purging and popping Lasix pills, taking 17-mile runs wrapped in Saran Wrap before going into a steam room to ‘make the cut’.

Montano’s obsessive, self-destructive behaviors seem to go unnoticed. One example of his poor decisions occurred before his first start in 1977. Earlier that morning he broke three ribs in a training incident, high on pain medication, he competed in the race finishing sixth.

Unable to maintain these physically abusive behaviors and attracted by the dance floor in ‘Saturday Night Fever” disco-style, Montano enrolls in the Adelphi University Dance Department receiving a scholarship. After graduating he was cast in “Cats” (as a kitten). This was the beginning of his successful career in theater.

Our Reaction

Montano displayed his attention to detail, recreating scenes as he recalled them, impersonating the cast of characters who guided his life’s journey, and creating a high-energy, physically intense performance.

His love of racing was evident, as was his need to excel at everything (including this performance). Montano is a talented performer (who at age 60) has already accomplished so much.

We wish that he exercised more restraint limiting the steps in his (relatively short) career as a jockey. His chameleonlike ability to adopt the personas of the people in his life was amazing, focusing on their visual and vocal differences. The play was a whirlwind, flipping between characters, reminding us how many people influenced his early years.

Inspirational

Montano’s single-minded determination to succeed in competitive environments is an inspiration. But it tells a cautionary tale as well, his idol and mentor, a man who did not cut corners, ate healthily, and prioritized family was killed in a racing accident. Being mindful of risks is not always enough. While Montano abused his body and became addicted to drugs and unhealthy practices, he was able to turn his life around with the support of his family. At age 20 he went to college to pursue another passion, dance. Small reminds us that it is never too late to try something new and follow your dreams.

Montano was motivated by passion; he was lucky and talented. His story underscores the power of determination. Although Montano never won a race as a jockey, he lived his dream and turned it into the one-man biographical show Small.

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Next at the George Street Playhouse is King James running from March 18 – to April 6