Glorious!

Synopsis

Glorious is the true story of the eccentric American, Florence Foster Jenkins, otherwise known as the 'socialite soprano'. During the Thirties and Forties, the somewhat delusional singer made a career out of doing concerts, although she couldn't hit a single note. The 'dire diva of din' recorded many records and perhaps her most famous recording was of Mozart's Queen of the Night aria. After doing a series of private concerts at the Ritz Carlton in New York the singer braved Carnegie Hall, which sold out months in advance.

Our Review:

4 November 2005

The Duchess Theatre may be under new ownership (See News, 11 Jul 2005), but it is business as usual in the tunelessness stakes that famously afflicted the last tenant here, Behind the Iron Mask. Of course, tunelessness is not merely the offence here - it's also the defence. The subject is Florence Foster Jenkins, the real-life "dire diva of din" and "first lady of the sliding scale" as she was variously billed in the 1940s when she not only recorded albums of her coloratura soprano atrocities but also even sold out Carnegie Hall.

Foster Jenkins is obviously a rich source of inspiration. Another play, called Souvenir, is now on Broadway, while Glorious! is the third treatment I've seen about the singer on British shores - Jean Boht’s solo show Viva La Diva was at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2001, while last year Valda Aviks starred in When Florence Met Isadora at the fringe Rosemary Branch. The pro...

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Latest User Review

81.6.242.81) - 7 March 2006:

What a lovely way to spend the evening. The night I saw it the audience gave a standing ovation - and you don't often get standing ovations for plays! If you want a good laugh - I recommend this show. It's light, not taxing on the little grey cells, and will definately bring a smile to your face. Please ignore the critics. After all they are only failed artists themselves!...

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