Performances hit the right notes in patio players’ ‘Glorious’

By Katherine Beeson 

Published Oct. 2, 2019

Falls Patio Players opens its 2019 season with the comedy “Glorious! The True Story of Florence Foster Jenkins, the Worst Singer in the World.” The production is directed by Diana Alioto. 

Foster Jenkins was a flamboyant, amateur soprano in New York City in the 1920s-1940s. She received a very substantial inheritance from her father and either founded or joined many ladies’ civic and social organizations. Even though she clearly could not sing and insisted on wearing outlandish costumes, she performed at fund-raisers for many of these groups and managed to become well-known with musicians such as Cole Porter and Caruso counted among her true fans. The ladies in her groups protected her from laughter or rude comments during her presentations and she felt that each recital was a complete success. Her musical climax was a performance at Carnegie Hall.

 Florence Foster Jenkins is played by Goo. No, that’s not really correct – Goo becomes Florence Foster Jenkins. From her appearance to her carriage to her mannerisms, she nails this part and this character. Goo is a joy to watch from beginning to end. I saw from her bio that Goo has been in musicals in the past and I have no idea how someone who can actually sing can perform as a person who can’t, but Goo is very good at being very bad! 

Justin Lehman plays Cosme McMoon, who joins “Madame” as her pianist. His cutting, under-his-breath comments are soon replaced with true respect as he too falls under the true charms of the operatic warbler. Lehman delivers with a light touch and plays the part very well.  

Tim Dondlinger plays Foster Jenkins’ long-time companion, St. Clair Bayfield. Dondlinger is sophisticated and urbane as he portrays the friend who will always have the singer’s best interests at heart. Jennifer Sciuti plays Dorothy, a life-long loyal friend who is Madame’s strongest society backer. Sciuti is sweet in the role. Linda Schuster Hake plays society woman Mrs. Verrinder-Gedge, one of the few who publicly denounces Foster Jenkins’ performances and can’t understand how and why she continues to become a success. Schuster Hake is appropriately nasty. 

There are two subplots in this show that I must confess I do not understand. The first is the attitude of the maid, Maria. She is wonderfully played by Sandra Hollander. When the show first opens, we encounter Maria, who is, for some unknown reason, very angry when asked to do anything. As far as we see, she is the maid in a lovely apartment, taking care of two adults, but she gives sharp retorts in Spanish when asked to do something as easy as get the tea or show someone to the door. She suddenly thaws when someone learns four words in Spanish and is completely transformed. Why did Maria not learn a bit of English? Why did the household not learn any Spanish? I am guessing the playwright wanted early comic relief, but it just doesn’t fit.  

The other is the inclusion of Dorothy’s pet dog. It does lead to one touching scene late in the show, but did not really move the plot forward in any meaningful manner, either.  

The plot moves a bit slowly at the beginning, but when it gathers steam, it is really a very touching story with bits of real comedy. The audience gets to know Florence Foster Jenkins through Goo’s wonderful performance and by the end of the show will be thinking that Foster Jenkins was really a remarkable woman.

“Glorious” runs through October 6. Tickets available at the door or by visiting FALLSPATIOPLAYERS.COM or calling 262-255-8372.