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Wendi Peters and Matthew James Morrison. Picture: Chris Davis Glorious! Derby theatre **** A welcome revival of Peter Quilter’s play, starring Wendi Peters of Coronation Street fame. It premiered at the Birmingham Rep twenty one years ago before transferring to the West End for two hundred shows, and showing internationally. It is based upon the true story of wealthy American socialite, Florence Foster Jenkins (1868-1944), an amateur coloratura soprano, who became known, and often mocked, for her flamboyant performances, costumes and poor singing ability. She was described in the Book of Heroic Failures as: "the world’s worst opera singer…. No one, before or since, has succeeded in liberating themselves so completely from the shackles of musical notation". At the age of 76, she booked Carnegie Hall for a recital, and 2,000 fans had to be turned away on the night. Many of the reviews were scathing, and Florence suffered a heart attack and died a few weeks later. There was a well cultivated ambivalence as to whether Florence was having a laugh, or was deadly serious. She made eleven professional recordings in the years immediately prior to her death. What was beyond doubt is that she sought to entertain - Wendi Peters captures that perfectly. Injecting irrepressible chutzpah into her role, and flirting with her pianist with equal enthusiasm. Opera aficionados will recognise Habanera from Carmen, the Laughing Song from Die Fledermaus, and the Queen of the Night’s aria from The Magic Flute . . . . just . . . Florence's new accompanist, Cosme McMoon (Matthew James Morrison) – she sacked the previous one – is the delightful straight man to her manic incarnation. In the second act he and Florence also share some genuine, poignant moments, both of them outsiders in different ways. The dutiful Italian maid Maria (Caroline Gruber) has to contend with a truly awful wardrobe of costumes designed by Florence herself – such as Little Bo-Peep and the Queen of the Night’s white angel, complete with wings and tiara. Costumier Ingrid Hu may have had something to do with it… and Florence’s friend, Dorothy, (Sioned Jones) isn’t much help. Director Kit Jameson has enormous fun with this very funny production - and so does the cast and audience. Tightly paced, with a running time of 50nminutes and 40 minutes for the respective halves, the energy does not sag. Essential viewing for the Operatic cognoscenti-
and those who want a good comic night out. Glorious! continues in all
its glory until 28th, February . . .with encores at Malvern 7-11
April 2026 Gary Longden 24-02-26 |
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