Glorious

Immortalised on stage and more recently on screen with Meryl Streep in the title role, this is the true story about Florence Foster Jenkins who loved music and singing but the only trouble was, she couldn’t sing in tune! Florence was a wealthy woman and was able to buy her way into giving stage performances and even at the age of 74 had a sell out concert at Carnegie Hall albeit with her less than perfect singing voice. 

As the audience took their seats and during the interval, the background music was of arias being sung how they should have been – in tune! The stage was set with the use of drapes for most scenes, which actually worked quite well, as each scene had good set dressing mainly around a large grand piano. The lighting was well devised. Set in 1944 the costumes fitted this era together with suitably styled wigs. I liked the fact that the cast worked mainly to the front of the stage which meant dialogue was clearly audible. I am sure that most of the audience didn’t realise (I certainly didn’t) that MD Gillian Noakes was playing a keyboard offstage for Cosme.

What a cast Director David Street had to work with for his debut with Hartley Players, especially Carol Arman-Addey as Florence Foster Jenkins. I know Carol has a lovely singing voice so it must have taken a lot of practice to deliberately sing out of tune! This part was made for Carol who captured the true essence of Florence and all her eccentricities perfectly. She was matched by Florence’s devoted partner, St. Clair, played with such charm by John Wilson. Also his debut with Hartley Players, Tom Masters as Florence’s pianist Cosme McMoon, battled with his love of singing  and the need of a salary. At the end of the play he delivers a touching monologue summing up Florence’s life and death and what she meant to those around her. Florence’s close friend Dorothy, played just right by Margaret Bown, showing friendship and support. But oh what a lovely cameo part of Maria the Spanish maid played for all it’s comedy worth so brilliantly by Tessa Pina. Mrs Verrinder-Gedge played well by Vanessa Bartlett was an opponent of Florence and was not afraid of speaking her mind in a very forceful way. Last but by no means least Martin Arman-Addy who did a sterling job as Studio Engineer and Radio Commentator and when not needed in those parts was sat in the prompt corner. 

This is a gem of a play with feelgood humour and delivered by a superb cast–Glorious!

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