Glorious! is based on the true story of American socialite and amateur coloratura soprano Florence Foster Jenkins - a woman who, in her day, was dubbed ‘the worst singer in the world’. 

Florence believed her voice to be far, far better than it was and mainly performed privately for audiences who humoured rather than ridiculed her. Her costumes, stage presence and enigmatic off-key performances were flamboyant, to say the least, leading to her becoming something of a cult figure on the New York City music scene.

In 1944, at the grand old age of 76, Florence finally fulfilled her dream and performed a now-legendary concert to 3,000 people in the city’s prestigious Carnegie Hall. Her many fans loved the performance, but the harsh and scathing reviews devastated her. In a memorable response, Florence said: “People may say I can’t sing, but no one can ever say I didn’t sing.”

The story of Florence Foster Jenkins is best known nowadays thanks to the 2016 Academy Award-nominated film starring Meryl Streep and Hugh Grant. However, more than a decade earlier, Florence was the subject of Peter Quilter’s stage comedy Glorious!which premiered at Birmingham Repertory Theatre. Following a UK tour, the production transferred to London’s West End, where it ran for six months and starred Maureen Lipman. The show was nominated for the Olivier Award for best new comedy and has since been seen by millions of people worldwide. Now celebrating its 20th anniversary, Glorious! is part way through a UK tour and is this week visiting Malvern.

The production sees Florence being played by Wendi Peters, who’s best known for playing Cilla Battersby-Brown in Coronation Street back in the noughties. Her comic timing and vocal agility are perfect for the role of the larger-than-life socialite with the diva-like tendencies.

The show starts when Florence meets pianist Cosmé McMoon (Matthew James Morrison - Felix Baker in EastEnders), and it’s through his eyes that the story unfolds. Initially, Cosmé is completely baffled by Florence’s ‘talents’ and concerned about the potentially negative impact which accompanying her might have on his career. But a fondness for her soon grows, and it is their unlikely relationship which sits at the heart of the show. Morrison’s portrayal of McMoon is sweet and charming. He and Peters share a highly amusing repartee, creating many laugh-out-loud comedy moments that were well received by last night’s appreciative audience.

The show has a small cast of four actors playing five roles. The musical entertainment is outstanding, especially the rendition of Mozart’s Queen Of The Night aria from The Magic Flute. Peters performs this hilariously off-key and with truly breathtaking energy. 

Glorious! is truly glorious, a fabulous experience from beginning to end and hugely deserving of the critical acclaim it has garnered across the years. If you fancy a fun, funny and ultimately uplifting theatrical experience, grab yourself a ticket asap - the production shows in Malvern until Saturday.

Five stars

Reviewed by Sue Hull at Malvern Theatres on Tuesday 7 April. Glorious! continues to show at the venue until Saturday 11 April. The show then returns to the region next month, running at Coventry's Belgrade Theatre from Monday 18 to Saturday 23 May.