author: Alan Duda
“It’s not Immodest, it’s Art!”
Alfie Byrne loves art. Specifically the works of Oscar Wilde. Which he reads daily to the commuters of the Dublin bus he conducts. And nightly as he conducts Wilde’s plays for his community theater at St. Imelda’s church. And everyone loved their Importance of Being Earnest. But as Wilde himself discovered, not everyone loves the idea of them putting on Salome. Also Julia Arbutus loves art. And it shows in her directorial debut of A Man of No Importance, in which all this happens, and more.
This being a musical about community theater, there is a lot of meta happening. How to costume the dance of the seven veils? Kudos, Giuliana Weiss. What blood for John the Baptist’s head and who makes cucumber sandwiches? Thank you, Talia Trunk. The lights work until they don’t? I saw you, Mark Robinson. And yes John Lynch as Erine Lally, I love the total transformation you exhibit during your acting lesson. Stephen Foreman’s set is also a wonder – I didn’t know you could have GAC be both ¾ thrust and free-standing proscenium at the same time!
My notes have written AnnaBelle Lowe as “Adele Rice / Great Voice” but alas that only rhymes when spoken in a Dublin lilt. Which all the actors use, while singing, wonderfully across the board. Ryan Kieft as bus driver Robbie brings great power singing to his reprise, as well as with Gregory Young as Fr. Kenny in Confession. Diane Alonso as Alfie’s sister Lily is adept at the tongue twisting in “The Burden of Life” and bringing out the feels in “Tell Me Why.” So too sad is John Sheldon’s ‘Baldy’ singing “The Cuddles Mary Gave.” But “Man in the Mirror” is my favorite, whether with Stephen Foreman as Alfie and Brian Monsell as Oscar, or the full company in the reprise.
The choreography also fills the stage, whether dancing with percussion, violin, or tap, to just simply riding together on the bus, it puts you in the moment. I would like to particularly highlight the lightning-fast set changes done by the full cast – you can tell that was rehearsed early and often, along with music director Johanna Alonso keeping the show together and flowing with the live band.
Director Julia Arbutus should be proud of this show. It is strong, coherent, and fun!
Running Time: 2 hours and 30 minutes with one intermission
A Man of No Importance plays through May 4th 2024 at Greenbelt Arts Center— 123 Centerway in downtown Greenbelt, MD. For tickets call the box office at 301-441-8770 or purchase them online.
There is no performance on Saturday 27th of April. GAC has partnered with Greenbelt Cinema which will be showing the 1953 Salome Sunday 21st of April at 5PM.
