Glorious! – Derby theatre

A welcome revival of Peter Quilter’s play,  starring Wendi Peters of East Enders fame. It premiered at the Birmingham Rep 21 years ago before transferring to the West End for 200 shows and showing internationally.

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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 performance 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“.

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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.

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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 energy into her role and relishing the saucy  tongue in cheek dialogue

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Opera aficionados will recognise” Habanera” from Carmen, “the Laughing Song” from Die Fledermaus, and “the Queen of the Night’s” ” from the Magic Flute- just…

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Florences’  new accompanist, Cosme McMoon  ( Matthew James Morrison ) – she sacked the previous one –  is  the delightful straight man to her manic incarnation .

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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.

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Essential viewing for the Operatic cognoscenti- and those who want a good comic night out. “Glorious” continues in all its glory until 28^th February

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