The true story of wealthy socialite and amateur soprano-singer Florence Foster Jenkins has beguiled the world for the last 80 years – because how could a painfully tone-deaf singer sell out New York’s prestigious Carnegie Hall?
Glorious!, currently on at Oxford Playhouse, as part of a 20th anniversary nationwide tour, focuses on the last part of Jenkins’ life as seen through the eyes of newly-hired pianist Cosme McMoon. ‘We all need to be more Florence’ Wendi Peters heads up Glorious! the hilarious new stage musical coming to Oxford Playhouse next week
He is understandably aghast at not only Jenkins’ shockingly bad voice – ‘Murder on the high Cs’, as the programme wittily notes – but also at her apparently monumental self-delusion; how can she not know that her voice ranges from shudderingly shrill to flat as a pancake?
Bafflingly, she simply views any criticism from her peers, which is sometimes brutally direct, as professional jealousy. Initially McMoon wants to act on his instincts and run for the hills, despite Jenkins’ generous financial incentives, but gradually begins to realise, as we do, that her heart is as big as her voice is bad.
Florence is unwaveringly kind, helpful, generous, courageous and single-minded, determined to fight for her dream of recognition as a singer despite the brickbats hurled at her. He ends up a loyal friend, fiercely fighting her corner.
Wendi Peters in the lead role is a joy as her Foster-Jenkins slowly but surely begins to charm us, despite her speaking voice being as shrill as her singing one.
Her extravagant gowns and resplendent angel wings are a sight for sore eyes (and ears!). Against the opulent backdrop of either Florence’s apartment or the spot-lit red velvet curtains of Carnegie Hall, there is genuine chemistry between her and Matthew James Morrison as pianist Cosme.
By the end, we aren’t sure if Florence succeeded in spite of, or because of, her remarkable voice but either way, as the heart-warming Glorious! shows, she had a go and that’s what truly counts, which is why the whole audience ended up rooting for Florence.
Glorious! may be ear-splitting but it’s also heart-warming through and through.
Edward Bliss
Glorious! runs until Saturday April 18 at Oxford Playhouse. https://www.oxfordplayhouse.com/events/glorious
