Encore presentation of Perth Theatre Company's Glorious!

Bad singing brings comedic relief. New York singer hits the high notes to shatter at Don Russell Performing Arts Centre when Perth Theatre Company presents its production of Peter Quilter’s Glorious! on Saturday 7 June at 8pm. Glorious! tells the true story of Florence Foster Jenkins, the wealthy 1940s eccentric and enthusiastic soprano, whose voice left much to be desired. The play is a highly amusing and heart-warming comedy that takes you through the sonic glory of her charity recitals and extravagant balls, her bizarre recording sessions and her ultimate triumph – a concert at the illustrious Carnegie Hall. Jenkins was a New York legend who believed she was blessed with a divine voice and that it was her duty to delight her friends and later, the public, with her arias. Sadly, her voice, though powerful, rarely stayed on pitch or hit the correct note, making her renditions horribly discordant yet strangely appealing. Since Glorious’ popular debut and successful season at London’s West End in 2005, the play has been performed in 23 countries. It hit our shores in 2007 with sold-out shows in Sydney. This Perth Theatre Company production is its WA premiere. Glorious! features the talents of Jenny McNae (who plays the lead and co-directs with PTC’s Alan Beacher), Benj D’Addario (The York Crucifixion) and Monica Main (Fair Dinkum). Playwright Peter Quilter is the same talent behind the 2006 Edinburgh Fringe Festival hit End of the Rainbow, starring Caroline O’Connor, a musical drama about the final months of Judy Garland’s life. Admission is $31.70 standard, $28.40 concession, $24.70 for students and groups of 10 or more. For bookings and information, call T: 9493 4577. “As a comic tribute to bullet-proof joie de vivre and boilerplate self-confidence, it’s hard to fault... Glorious! is pitch perfect.” Sun Herald