Bad singing was never so funny
Theater Review
|
|
Nancy Johnston is the demented diva Florence Foster Jenkins in Vermont Stage's “Souvenir.” Courtesy of Vermont Stage |
Toolbox
By Jim Lowe Staff Writer - Published: February 8, 2010
BURLINGTON – Few hysterically funny comedies can claim to be based on absolute fact, but Vermont Stage Company's “Souvenir” certainly is one.
Florence Foster Jenkins (1868-1944) was a society dowager who thought herself an opera star. Certainly many have had delusions of grandeur, but few – if any – with little, or no musical talent have performed publicly with great success and ultimately selling out Carnegie Hall. Jenkins – with a voice that defies description – did.
“Souvenir,” a fictional retelling of the relationship between Jenkins and her accompanist by Stephen Temperly, is a tender and hysterically funny comedy, and Vermont Stage Company's production is simply charming. "souvenir" moves to Middlebury's Town Hall Theater Feb. 11-13.
Jenkins always wanted to be an opera star, but nobody, least of all her parents and her husband, encouraged her. But, after being divorced, her father died, leaving her a substantial amount of money. This allowed her to put on private recitals, mostly at New York's Ritz-Carlton Ballroom, for charity. Most of the audience was friends who politely contained themselves, but gradually more and more people sought tickets for what had become a “campy” event. She even made commercial recordings (one of which is heard in the play). It all culminated in a recital at Carnegie Hall sold-out weeks in advance. And, it seems, Jenkins never quite realized that people were laughing at her.
Throughout most of her “career,” Jenkins was partnered by a pianist and unsuccessful song composer, Cosme McMoon. Temperly's “music”-laden comedy tells her story through McMoon, painting a tender picture of this delusional caricature with s huge heart.
Vermont Stage's production, directed Sara Lampert Hoover, at Friday's performance, proved fascinating, charming and delightfully funny. Carl Danielsen delivered a nuanced and sympathetic performance as McMoon, and proved a fine musician as well. Danielsen effectively made the case for Jenkins as a worthy human being, all the time reflecting the terror a young professional musician must have felt in dealing with this phenomenon.
Nancy Johnston was an absolute charmer as the indefatigable Jenkins. And it takes a good musician to sing that badly, though Johnston proves to be that before it's over.
The Vermont Stage production proved a polished one, with an elegant set by Jeff Modereger, appropriate – and hilarious – costumes by Rachel Kurland – and effectively dramatic lighting by Jeffrey Salzberg.
Vermont Stage's “Souvenir” is awfully funny – but with a big heart.