Monet (Stephen Smith) enters to sit in front of his easel-mounted, blank canvas calling for his daughter-in-law and stepdaughter Blanche. A table set with paint and brushes completes the scene. He begins to recount his life with the clever use of projected images onto the canvas of the people, places and paintings he speaks of. A man who feels strongly about things, especially his family, and certainly lacks no confidence in his ability. He began doing caricatures, which proved very profitable, but tired with them, colour being his obsession.
Raised in Le Havre, his mother supported his early interest in the outdoors and drawing from young, but his father disapproved, wanting him to work in his grocery business. His mother died when he was sixteen, and he was sent to live with his childless, widowed, wealthy aunt. He studied at the Academie Suisse, a classmate of Auguste Renoir.
After marrying Camille, his model for two years, just before the Franco-Prussian War, they moved to London where he saw the work of Turner and Constable, proving to be great influences. Eugene introduced him to the concept of plein air painting. The term "impressionism" is derived from the title of his painting Impression Soleil Levant, which was first exhibited in the so-called "exhibition of rejects" of 1874—an exhibition initiated by Monet and like-minded artists as an alternative to the Salon. Monet lived in Giverny from 1883, where he bought a house. Paintings of waterlilies in his Giverny garden occupied him continuously for the last 20 years of his life.
The French painter and founder of impression painting Oscar-Claude Monet, born in 1840, had a very full 86 years. Love, children, two marriages, Camille bore him a son Jean, who sadly died in 1914, and Michel. He married his second wife, Marina Alice, in 1892, failing eyesight, grief, depression, fame and much more, a lot to cover in 55 minutes.
The award-winning writer, celebrating her 31st year at the Fringe, Joan Greening, certainly has made a brilliant attempt at covering this fascinating, talented man’s life; her other career teaching art history may also have helped. She chose the actor well to play the part, Smith, who also directed it. Sometimes his fervour overrules his delivery, making him rush and misplace a word or two, but not enough to spoil the effect. I appreciate Smith has a lot to cover, but leaving space and breathing are important, also difficult to direct oneself as you cannot see what the audience does.
The award-winning actor Smith is also the award-winning Artistic Director of Threedumb Theatre, formed in 2015. As director, he added the projection design operated by his wife Stephanie Van Driesen, who he says is “literally lighting up his world on stage and off”. He also has a background in painting—talents in many areas.
Unfortunately, as with several shows, the air conditioning is rather distracting, a little like continuous running water, but probably necessary. A show that could take a second visit. Well written, acted and staged; not only for Monet or Impressionism lovers, but anyone even vaguely interested in art. It gives a great insight into Monet and his life, entertaining, informative, leaving you wanting to know more. An unmissable, fascinating show.