Wendi Peters brings warmth, comic precision and real feeling to the role of Florence Foster Jenkins in a production that is far more moving than its premise might suggest.
There is a danger with a play like Glorious! that the joke could wear thin. After all, its central figure is Florence Foster Jenkins, the famously dreadful singer who somehow made it all the way to Carnegie Hall. But this production at Oxford Playhouse proves there is far more to Peter Quilter’s play than a string of comic set-pieces.
Yes, it is very funny. But it is also unexpectedly moving.
Now playing in Oxford this week, Glorious! tells the true story of the wealthy American socialite whose complete lack of musical ability did nothing to dent her confidence or determination. Florence may have been mocked for her wildly off-key singing and flamboyant outfits, but she pressed on regardless, driven by an unshakeable belief in her own talent and a genuine love of music.
What is Glorious! about?
Glorious! tells the true story of Florence Foster Jenkins, the New York socialite who became famous not for her talent, but for her spectacular lack of it. Despite singing wildly off-key, Florence threw herself into music with absolute conviction, building a devoted following and eventually performing at Carnegie Hall. The play follows her unlikely rise, her friendship with accompanist Cosme McMoon, and her unwavering belief that joy matters more than perfection.
A comic role with real heart
At the centre of it all is Wendi Peters, who gives a hugely enjoyable performance as Florence. Best known to many from Coronation Street, Peters throws herself into the role with real commitment, capturing Florence’s peculiar mannerisms, physical frailty and blissful self-belief without ever reducing her to a caricature.
The voice, of course, is terrible, gloriously so, but Peters makes sure the audience sees the woman behind the joke as well. That is what gives the production its strength.
A delightful pairing at the centre of the play
A large part of the evening’s charm lies in Florence’s relationship with her accompanist, Cosme McMoon, played with excellent comic timing by Matthew James Morrison. Their first meeting is one of the funniest scenes of the night, not least because Morrison’s face does almost as much work as the script.
As Florence proudly describes her singing as “songbird-like”, his dawning horror is a joy to watch. Later, when he suggests even Canada would not be far enough away to escape the sound of her voice, the line lands perfectly.
Yet the relationship is not played only for laughs. What begins in disbelief slowly develops into something warmer and more loyal, and the production is all the better for allowing that shift to happen naturally.
Sharp writing, big laughs and surprising tenderness
The script is full of sharp, well-judged lines. Florence’s complete inability to understand what people really think of her provides much of the comedy, particularly when she proudly repeats backhanded compliments from critics as though they were glowing praise. Her conviction that audiences adore her, while entirely misunderstanding why they flock to see her, is both ridiculous and oddly endearing.
There is also strong support elsewhere, particularly in the scenes involving Mrs Verrinder-Gedge, whose blunt assessment of Florence’s abilities gives the play some of its most cutting and funniest moments.
But what lingers is not just the humour. It is Florence’s refusal to be crushed by ridicule.
More than an evening of easy laughter
For all her delusion, there is something strangely admirable about Florence’s certainty. When she insists that critics may say she sang badly but can never say she did not sing, it lands as more than a punchline. It becomes a kind of mission statement.
Florence is absurd, certainly, but she is also brave, hopeful and utterly unapologetic.
That is what makes Glorious! more than an evening of easy laughter. Underneath the eccentricity is a story about joy, vulnerability and the stubborn determination to live life on your own terms.
Oxford Playhouse audiences are likely to leave smiling, but they may also leave with a little more affection for Florence Foster Jenkins than they expected.
Cast at a glance
Florence Foster Jenkins: Wendi Peters
Cosme McMoon: Matthew James Morrison
Maria / Mrs Verrinder-Gedge: Caroline Gruber
Dorothy: Sioned Jones
Glorious! runs at Oxford Playhouse until Saturday. To book tickets, contact the box office on 01865 305305 or visit oxfordplayhouse.com.
Full UK tour dates
| Dates | Venue | Location | Box Office |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14 – 18 April | Oxford Playhouse | Oxford | 01865 305305 |
| 23 – 25 April | Haymarket | Basingstoke | 01256 844244 |
| 28 April – 2 May | Everyman Theatre | Cheltenham | 01242 572 573 |
| 5 – 9 May | Yvonne Arnaud | Guildford | 01483 440000 |
| 12 – 16 May | Hippodrome | Darlington | 01325 405405 |
| 19 – 23 May | Belgrade Theatre | Coventry | 024 7655 3055 |
| 26 – 30 May | Theatre Clwyd | Mold | 01352 344101 |
