monodrama

noun

mono·​dra·​ma ˈmä-nə-ˌdrä-mə 

-ˌdra-

: a drama acted or designed to be acted by a single person

monodramatic

ˌmä-nə-drə-ˈma-tik 

adjective

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web

The monodrama by Suzie Miller and directed by Justin Martin propels Comer stunningly into the tale of a crackerjack barrister who prides herself on getting offenders off. —Peter Marks, Washington Post, 13 Dec. 2022

Toshio Hosokawa’s monodrama for mezzo-soprano and 12 players, probes deeply into the terror and loss of Edgar Allan Poe’s poem through a jagged, atonal setting that stretches the scansion out of its familiar rhythm. —Heidi Waleson, WSJ, 4 Oct. 2022

Based on a monodrama by Jean Cocteau, the 1959 piece delves into the emotional state of Elle (She), whose lover of five years has left her. —Heidi Waleson, WSJ, 4 Oct. 2021

Jonathan Berger’s monodrama is based on a U.S. Army helicopter pilot’s first-person account of the 1968 massacre of hundreds of Vietnamese villagers by American troops. —Matt Cooper, latimes.com, 8 Mar. 2018

In its heyday, City Opera was a home for Argento’s richly expressive music, and the upcoming performance will include two of his monodramas. —The New York Times, New York Times, 3 Nov. 2017

Word History

First Known Use

1793, in the meaning defined above