Skip to main content
monodrama

monodrama

8.9
A dramatic or musical show performed by one actor who may play several characters
  • noun
  • /ˈmɒnəˌdrɑːmə/
  • Specialized
translation icon : monodrama
  • But I think Royce and I agreed that the form of the opera was really a monodrama.
  • monodrama form

Examples

  • For an examination of the monodrama form, see Tornqvist, "Monodrama: Term and Reality," and Paul.

    Academic text (1996)
  • But the monodrama form is not unproblematic.

    Academic text (1996)
  • For an examination of the monodrama form, see Tornqvist, "Monodrama: Term and Reality," and Paul.

    Academic text (1996)
  • The fact that the little theater group consisted of both Swedish- and Danish-speaking actors may, in fact, have contributed to Strindberg's choice of the monodrama form.

    Academic text (1996)
  • Monodramas, Nonfiction Writings, and Verse Dramas: A Unified Aesthetic

    Academic text (2017)
  • The monodrama A Score to Settle opens in a darkened room (Seully Hall, unfortunately, did not provide the intimate nightclub atmosphere this piece needs).

    Blog text (30)
  • It inspired Eugene O'Neill to an early monodrama, Before Breakfast; Ingmar Bergman to one of his most important films, Persona.

    Academic text (1996)
  • Despite the ideological and aesthetic continuity of Webster's diverse art pieces, her monodramas have outshined her full-length verse dramas, perhaps because they resemble poetry more closely.

    Academic text (2017)
  • The actor captivated the audience in his powerful monodrama, seamlessly switching between different characters.

  • During the festival, she performed a moving monodrama that showcased her incredible range as a solo artist.

Antonyms

57 5.3

A group of musicians, singers, dancers, or actors who perform together, often supporting the main performers

Surface Forms

monodrama singular
monodramas plural

Morphology

monodrama = drama (transparent) = mono + drama

The meaning is directly compositional: 'mono-' means single and 'drama' refers to a dramatic performance.

Etymology

Monodrama is made from mono- meaning 'one' and drama meaning 'play' or 'action', so it gives a strong image of a single person on stage. A helpful way to remember it is to think of a long monologue or a 'one-person play' where one actor performs alone.