Coventry’s Belgrade Theatre this week presents Glorious!, the real-life story of Florence Foster-Jenkins, an amateur opera singer whose unparalleled performances brought tears to the eyes of her sizable audiences - whether tears of joy, laughter or pain from those more musically minded. The woman of the hour is played by one-time Corrie actress, Wendi Peters, who transforms into the New York socialite famed for being ‘the worst singer in the world’. 

We see the story through the eyes of Cosmé McMoon (Matthew Morrison), a young musician who becomes Florence’s pianist - even though he initially recoils at her (unashamedly loud, and definitely off-key) vocal performances at their first meeting. At first uncomfortable in the extreme, Cosmé comes to appreciate Florence’s passion, good-nature and joie de vivre - and watching his character morph from horrified skeptic to die-hard fan is delightful.

The play, written by Peter Quilter and directed by Kirk Jameson, is set in the early 1940s - aside from a few allusions, the Second World War seems a lifetime away. Instead, Florence surrounds herself with elegance and beauty. Her life revolves around her music and performance, and her stages are bedecked with flowers from her admirers.

Speaking of, the startlingly small cast is rounded out by Sioned Jones, who plays Dorothy (Florence’s devoted friend and admirer), and Caroline Gruber, who plays the formidable music-lover Mrs Verrinder-Gedge, but also has a comic turn as Florence’s no-nonsense cook, Maria. All four performers drew big laughs from the audience, who become a fifth cast member when Florence takes to the stage.

Naturally, the production’s crowning glory comes when Florence sings. Wendi Peters takes on the difficult task of 'performing badly on purpose' with aplomb. It’s no mean feat - the actress boasts a powerful set of pipes, and there are moments when Florence successfully holds a tune, and the audience hold their breath, bracing for a miracle… before she once again lands on a spectacularly wrong note. 

For any opera novices, in the interval professional recordings can be heard of the very same music which Florence has just been murdering. Peters' whole performance is charmingly quirky, and she embodies Florence and her mannerisms so completely that it is something of a surprise to see her stride on stage for the curtain call.

In all, Glorious! is aptly named - it’s a gem of a production which, particularly in the Belgrade’s B2 Studio, allows its audience to be fully immersed in the play. With only one more stop-off for the show’s national tour, this is the last chance to catch the story of a remarkable woman, and her remarkable, er, talent. 

Four Stars

Glorious! was reviewed on Tuesday 19 May by Jessica Clixby at the Belgrade Theatre, Coventry, where it shows until Saturday 23 May