54 Sings A Man of No Importance
54 Sings A Man of No Importance
54 Below, NYC, March 15, 2015
Reviewed by Joel Benjamin for Cabaret Scenes
T. Oliver Reid’s bare-bones staging of A Man of No Importance, the 2002 Terrence McNally/ Stephen Flaherty/ Lynn Ahrens succès d’estime, provided many pleasures at 54 Below.
This tenderhearted musical, set in 1964 Dublin, examines—in one lovely song after another—thwarted love in its many forms, beginning with the closeted bus conductor Alfie, played by the extraordinary Christopher Fitzgerald, whose “Love Who You Love” was aimed at the lovely Rose Hemingway as the young, unwed mother Adele Rice, but really was more about himself. There was a wondrous look on her face as she sang “Princess” after getting the lead in Salome. As Robbie, the object of Alfie’s affection, the handsome James Snyder led the cast in “The Streets of Dublin,” a paean to the eccentric, homely places and people of that town.
Marin Mazzie, as Alfie’s frustrated sister, Lily, had a field day with “Burden of Life,” revealing a long-suffering, frustrating existence tending to her younger brother’s needs. When she finds out that he’s been hiding that he is gay, “Tell Me Why” was her emotionally dark response. As her beau, the bigoted butcher Mr. Clancy, Douglas Sills once again proved his brilliant musical theater chops in the on-with-the-show “Going Up” and the serious “Confusing Times,” rationalizing his opposition to Alfie’s theatrical aspirations.
After the masterful Jim Norton all but stole the show with his homage to his character’s late wife, “The Cuddles Mary Gave,” there was hardly a dry eye in the house!
The superb cast also included Ryan Andes, Lauren Blackman, Janet Dickinson, Aaron Galligan-Stierle, Klea Blackhurst, Jennifer Simard and Andy Taylor.
Music director Shawn Gough led the wonderful band—Keith Bonner, Antoine Silverman, Andrew Zinsmeister, Alan Stevens Hewitt and Damien Bassman.
Category: Cabaret Reviews, New York City, New York City Cabaret Reviews
