Review by Jack McCabe
⭐️⭐️⭐️
I was delighted to be able to attend Hope Mill Theatre’s first in-house production of 2025. Hope Mill are celebrating 10 years of operation, and they begin that celebration with a production of Glorious!, the true story of the worst singer in the world. When I describe a person, who believes they are talented, standing on stage for all of the world to laugh at, you probably think I am summarising the new series of Britain’s Got Talent. But no, this is a stage show based on the remarkable true story of Florence Foster Jenkins.
Florence Foster Jenkins was an American socialite and, to say the least, amateur soprano. She was blissfully unaware of her vocal shortcomings and a symbol of self-assurance. Her eccentricity, confidence, and dedication made her a prominent figure in the world of music despite what the critics may have said. This show is a symbol to all those who dream but never dared.
Some may be familiar with the film that tells the story of Florence starring Meryl Streep and Hugh Grant, which gained Street an Oscar nomination for Best Actress. This production is very much an abridged version of that same story. The show is in two halves, each consisting of two scenes, and the reductive nature of this production led to the feeling that we were only getting part of the story. The idea of Florence having a deep-rooted aspiration to be a star was floated to the audience but never fully explored, we never really found out why she was so desperate to be a star, and there is little opportunity to develop the relationships between the characters we are introduced to. This story had potential, that is for sure. It felt like Peter Quilter, the writer, could have focused more on the reasons for, and consequences of, Florence’s lifestyle, which could have provided for a more versatile production.
That is not to say that this was not an enjoyable evening, as it was certainly funny, heartwarming, and gleeful. Wendi Peters, as Florence Foster Jenkins, plays this part with skill. It takes talent to go from pantomime-esque comedy to sheer vulnerability within minutes, which she was able to do. The real star of this performance was Charlie Hiscock, making his stage debut as Cosmé McMoon. McMoon is Florence’s pianist and accomplice, dragged into Florence’s life and playing the part of narrator. His performance was a comedic masterclass. His delivery of dialogue and physical comedy render it almost unbelievable that this is his first stage performance. Of course, he has featured in one of the most famous TV shows this decade, but nonetheless, this was a fantastic onstage debut. My only criticism that relates to him is that I did not get to hear more of his character’s story.
Rounding out the small cast, Anita Booth is effective in her multi-character role. She is left with what appear to be mostly stereotypical and old-fashioned jokes, although she does them very well. There was no need for her to play three characters, and perhaps the company could, and should, have been bigger.
Ingrid Hu’s costume design was fantastic. Timely, glamorous and believable. This, together with the set design, brought the audience into the 1940s. Hope Mill is a small theatre which necessitates care in bringing productions to life, and this production was brought to life perfectly. The performance was fabulous but restricted by the limited nature of the way the story was told. Florence Foster Jenkins lived a life as rich as she was, and I left wishing to have seen more of it and asking myself why it was restricted to only four scenes.
Glorious! plays at the Hope Mill Theatre until March 30th
For tickets and information visit https://hopemilltheatre.co.uk/event/glorious/
Photos by Cian O’Ryan