Living in a bubble
This is the true story of New York socialite Florence Foster Jenkins, who couldn’t sing a note but ended up playing Carnegie Hall. The events take place in 1944. On the other side of the world, American service members are fighting a battle for the very future of civilisation. But Florence has got her own battles to fight.
Curtain up
We’re introduced to Cosme McMoon, a pianist at the Broccoli Restaurant. That’s not his real name of course; nothing about any of these people is real. He visits Florence’s apartment to audition for a job. It’s immediately apparent that his soon-to-be partner has a delicate relationship with reality. They practise scales, and Cosme is horrified by the racket that Florence is making in her attempt to sing. Great stuff from Wendi Peters in the role of Florence. It must take a great deal of effort to sing this badly.
Talking Italian
Their conversation is interrupted with appearances from Florence’s Italian maid, who can barely speak a word of English. This is a brilliantly over-the-top performance from Caroline Gruber. But that’s okay, Florence can’t speak any Italian, a drawback for someone who loves to ‘sing’ Italian operettas.
Never an empty seat
Florence tells Cosme of the recitals that she hosts throughout New York City. There’s never an empty seat in the house. Everyone who attends a recital has to attend an interview beforemand at Florence’s apartment. This is to root out the enemy. This means anybody who would be a critic. She must know, somehow, that she’s really bad at this. But everyone who visits the apartment gets a free bottle of sherry with Florence’s portrait on the label. Cosme soon realises that this is all a bit unhinged, and he makes for the door. But Florence agrees to triple his existing salary at the restaurant, and he’s hooked.
In the closet
Florence is blissfully unaware of reality. She’s noticed that Cole Porter, one of her fans, has a large coterie of male companions, but seems to be the only person in New York that doesn’t realise that he’s gay. When she notices Cosme leaving one of her recitals in a taxi with a male companion, she assumes that they’ve just done it to split the fare. Matthew James Morrison is excellent as Cosme. He knows that his working relationship with Florence will compromise any musical integrity that he possesses, but that’s a small price to pay for fame and fortune.
The Melotone Studio
Next, we’re at a recording studio. Cosme and Dorothy, Florence’s number one fan, are waiting for the great singer to arrive. She relates some of Florence’s back story. Florence is probably tone deaf due to the side effects of taking mercury and arsenic to counteract syphilis. Dorothy tells Cosme about what a great dancer she used to be. She convinces him to play the Charleston so that she can dance it, but she’s too old for the gyrations, and she does herself a mischief. Great comedy acting by Sioned Jones. All of the protagonists are deluded in one way or another
Murder on the high C’s
There’s a fracas in the street outside. Florence is ushered inside. She’s been involved in a car crash. But every cloud has a silver lining. Florence is convinced that, in her scream caused by the crash, she reached a pitch never attained before. She replicates the scream to Cosme who humours her by saying that she’s hit an F Sharp, thereby increasing her vocal range. They then record The Laughing Song by Johann Strauss, in one take.
Nemesis
When the curtain goes up again, we’re at one of Florence’s recitals. She’s wearing another of her outlandish hand-made costumes, and selling copies of her Laughing Song record for $2.50 a piece. Cosme doesn’t bat an eyelid by this stage. But Mrs Verrinder-Gedge, Florence’s would-be nemesis, appears from the stalls. This is Caroline Gruber again. Florence’s biggest critic presents her with a letter from a list of detractors, slamming her lack of singing prowess. Florence gives the letter to Cosme, who promptly eats it. That’s how you deal with naysayers. But then, a telegram arrives; Florence has been invited to play Carnegie Hall.
A final performance
And so to Carnegie Hall. The show is a 3,000 seat sell out, with another 2,000 locked outside. Florence takes to the stage in one of her most flamboyant costumes yet. An angel, complete with wings and a halo, and she takes the place by storm.
This is a true story
At the introduction to the play, Cosme has told us that most of this is true. And it is. You really couldn’t make up the eventful, crazy life of Florence Foster Jenkins. She died a few weeks after that performance at Carnegie Hall. But the story is told with great wit, and there are loads of belly laughs. Wendi Peters gives it everytying. It’s a great night out. The worst thing that can happen is that you’ll get some terrible earworms
Glorious! Is written by Peter Quilter and directed by Kirk Jameson
Glorious! is playing at the Darlington Hippodrome, Parkgate, Darlington, DL1 1RR.
Box Office Telephone 01325 405405
These dates are available:
- Wednesday 13 May 7:30 pm
- Thursday 14 May 7:30 pm
- Friday 15 May 7:30 pm
- Saturday 16 May 7:30 pm
