(Cover Photo: Eddie Shields as “Alfie” with the COMPANY of the musical "A MAN OF NO IMPORTANCE" from Terrence McNally, Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty, now playing at SpeakEasy Stage Company in Boston, MA. until March 22, 2025. Photo credit Nile Scott Studios)

By Kevin T. Baldwin

METRMAG Reviewer

# 774-242-6724  

“No, Mrs. Grace, the most thrilling words in the English language are these: 'Good morning, my dear friends.”

                            - ("Alfie") / Terrence McNally

SpeakEasy Stage Company

 Presents the

McNally-Flaherty-Ahrens Musical 

"A MAN OF NO IMPORTANCE"

Book by Terrence McNally 

Music by Stephen Flaherty

Lyrics by Lynn Ahrens 

Directed by Paul Daigneault

Music Director Paul S. Katz

Choreographer Ilyse Robbins

Cast Includes: Wyatt Anton as “Breton Beret,” Aimee Doherty* as “Lily Bryne,” Kerry A. Dowling* as “Ms. Grace,” Jennifer Ellis* as “Mrs. Patrick,” Ronan Green as “Peter,” Meagan Lewis-Michelson as “Miss Crowe,” Joe Larocca as “Sully O’Hara/Reeds,”  Will McGarrahan* as “Ernie Lally/Oscar Wilde” Billy Meleady as “Baldy,” Dave Rabinow as “Father Kenny,” Rebekah Rae Robles as “Adele,” Keith Robinson as “Robbie Fay,” Eddie Shields* as “Alfie Byrne,” Sam Simahk* as “Carney,” Kathy St. George* as “Mrs. Curtin/Kitty” 

Additional Creative Team:   

Scenic Design - Jennifer McFarland Lord; Costumes - Rachel Padula-Shufelt; Lighting - Karen Perlow; Sound - Alexander Gage Baker; Props - Emme Shaw; Intimacy Coordinator - Paulina Martz; Fight Choreographer - Greg Maraio; Production Stage Manager - Brian Robillard; Assistant Stage Manager - Jolie Frazer-Madge.

* Member of Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States

** Represented by United Scenic Artists, Local USA 829 of the IATSE

Performances:

February 21, 2025 through March 22, 2025 

(Contact Box Office for Exact Times)  

Roberts Studio Theatre, Calderwood / BCA, 527 Tremont Street, Boston, MA. 02116 

TICKETS:

Contact the Box Office # 617-933-8600 or visit  www.speakeasystage.com 

BUY TICKETS

COVID 19 PROTOCOLS

Contact Venue for Most Updated COVID-19 Safety Protocols and Information.

(Warning: The following review contains spoilers)

If you have found it a painstaking chore to find that next great musical, with "A MAN OF NO IMPORTANCE" Paul Daigneault has gifted you a four-leaf clover of a musical in his final production as SpeakEasy Stage Company's Artistic Director.    

Featuring music by Stephen Flaherty, lyrics by Lynn Ahrens and a book by Terrence McNally, "A MAN OF NO IMPORTANCE" is based on the 1994 Albert Finney film of the same name. 

The score of the show fluctuates from somber to exuberant, from reflective to wildly free-spirited, but each and every song is engaging. 

During some of the more upbeat energetic numbers, there will no doubt be many folks in the audience smiling, clapping along and tapping their feet. 

For his SpeakEasy Stage swan song, director Daigneault has assembled a top-notch cast that includes some of the finest performers from the Boston theatre scene - and not one member of the versatile cast disappoints in this subdued yet superb musical.      

"A MAN OF NO IMPORTANCE" tells the story of an amateur theatre group in Dublin, Ireland and their director, who is determined to stage a version of a scandalous play, facing objections by members of the local church.   

While "A MAN OF NO IMPORTANCE" had a limited New York run at Lincoln Center, spanning just from September to December 2002, it did wind up winning the 2003 Outer Critics Circle Award for Best Off-Broadway Musical with a cast recording released that same year. 

After several other productions (including one in Canada and in London’s West End), the New York City revival of the musical emerged in 2022 starring Jim Parsons as the show’s protagonist, “Alfie Byrne.” 

The 2022 production of "A MAN OF NO IMPORTANCE" would go on to be nominated for three Lucille Lortel Awards (A.J. Shively winning one for Outstanding Featured Performer in a  Musical) and four Drama Desk Awards (including a nomination for Outstanding Revival of a Musical). 

(Photo: Eddie Shields as “Alfie" with Rebekah Rae Robles as “Adele” in a scene from the musical "A MAN OF NO IMPORTANCE" from Terrence McNally, Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty, now playing at SpeakEasy Stage Company in Boston, MA. until March 22, 2025. Photo credit Nile Scott Studios)

The SpeakEasy Stage cast is collectively both vibrant and brilliant and, thanks to the expert staging by Daigneault and choreography by Ilyse Robbins, is allowed to showcase their instrumental musical versatility throughout the musical in unfettered fashion. 

Along with Conductor and Music Director Paul S. Katz on piano, the musicians in the pit are ably supplemented by members of the cast on various flutes, piano, clarinet, guitar, mandolin, violin, accordion and percussion. 

I know there will be some who will find "A MAN OF NO IMPORTANCE" a cross between musicals "Once" and "Come From Away" - but that really is inaccurate and does a disservice to all three shows. 

However, if one considers the overall spirit conveyed by those shows, then that might be a more fairly accurate comparison.

The gorgeous, in-the-round blackbox set design used by director Daigneault immerses us into 1964 Dublin, Ireland, where we meet bus driver Alfie (Eddie Shields) who is also the community’s director of an amateur theatre troupe that has just been shut down by the local church. 

Alfie had hoped to stage the one-act tragedy “Salome” by noted (or notorious) writer Oscar Wilde but the church felt it strayed way too far from what they determined was “permissible” content.   

In other words, they thought it was smut.

(Photo: Keith Robinson (center) with Aimee Doherty, Dave Rabinow, Sam Simahk and Billy Meleady in a moment from the musical "A MAN OF NO IMPORTANCE" from Terrence McNally, Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty, now playing at SpeakEasy Stage Company in Boston, MA. until March 22, 2025. Photo credit Nile Scott Studios)

Shields as Alfie gives an emotional, sensitive, thought-provoking performance as Alfie who faces multiple adversities, outwardly confronting local bigotry and inwardly confronting his own suppressed desires. 

Among his many musical highlights, Shields renders the emotionally charged songs “Love Who You Love” and “The Man in the Mirror” as Alfie comes to terms with his own truth, manifesting itself into the image of Oscar Wilde (as fiercely played by Will McGarrahan). 

During the recall of events leading up to the church’s shut down of “Salome,” the actors in the troupe emerge onto stage, serving as a Greek chorus and showing great diversity as many of the actors play their own musical instruments and portray multiple characters. 

In the flashback, we are introduced one-by-one, to the members of Alfie’s theatre company, The St. Imelda's Players, based at the church. 

After the rousing ensemble number “Going Up,” Alfie and the Players take us back to their regular routine of driving on Alfie’s bus line as Alfie reads them all poetic passages as they all travel on toward their respective destinations. 

(Photo: Will McGarrahan as “Ernie Lally” with Kathy St. George as “Mrs. Curtin/Kitty” in a moment the musical "A MAN OF NO IMPORTANCE" from Terrence McNally, Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty, now playing at SpeakEasy Stage Company in Boston, MA. until March 22, 2025. Photo credit Nile Scott Studios)

Onto the bus steps in newcomer Adele (Rebekah Rae Robles), and Alfie instantly realizes she MUST be his "leading lady." 

Alfie announces to everyone his intentions to stage Wilde’s “Salome” with Adele in the lead (although she doesn’t know it yet). 

Some of his Players react enthusiastic not knowing the content of the story…or apprehensive being quite aware of its “filthy” (or “artistic”) content. 

Adele is opposed until she learns from Alfie that his handsome bus driver Robbie Fay (Keith Robinson) will play opposite her. 

Then, she agrees. Robles is utterly charming as Adele, and marvelously renders the wistful melancholy tune, “Princess.”   

As Robbie, Robinson gives a layered performance, keeping certain information about Robbie a mystery until the very end, also exceling vocally during the numbers “The Streets of Dublin” with the Company and “Love Who You Love (Reprise).” 

When Alfie informs his spinster sister Lily (Aimee Doherty) that he has “met a girl” Lily is thrilled, having postponed her own marriage (to boyfriend and local butcher Carney played by Sam Simahk) to take care of Alfie until he marries. 

Simahk is a stern presence as Carney who becomes a pivotal adversarial figure as the story progresses. Doherty shines as Alfie’s loving sister, and is given many moments to shine vocally, especially in songs “The Burden of Life” and later in “Tell Me Why.” 

Unfortunately for Lily, Alfie does not have the kind of feelings for Adele she thinks – he views her more as his muse, envisioning her as the perfect “Salome.”

(Photo: Eddie Shields as “Alfie Byrne” stands with Will McGarrahan as “Oscar Wilde” in a scene from the musical "A MAN OF NO IMPORTANCE" from Terrence McNally, Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty, now playing at SpeakEasy Stage Company in Boston, MA. until March 22, 2025. Photo credit Nile Scott Studios)

It cannot be overstated just how critical each and every member of the SpeakEasy Stage Company ensemble is in "A MAN OF NO IMPORTANCE" as each one contributes in no small way to seamlessly propelling the story forward. 

Between playing their own musical instruments, to portraying multiple characters, to assisting in every single scene transition so that everything appears fluid while in motion – this cast simply makes the show work. 

Thanks to the delightful score by the team of Ahrens and Flaherty, in addition to some great group numbers, there are many sweet solo moments in the musical, some coming a bit unexpected.

One of the sweetest yet unexpected moments occurs as Alfie’s stage manager, James Michael O’Shea - aka “Baldy” (Billy Meleady) - meets Alfie at the cemetery and reminisces about his departed wife in “The Cuddles Mary Gave.” 

The only shame is that there wasn't enough time to expand upon each and every supporting character marvelously written by Terrence McNally (though understandable with the result being a musical over four hours long) as I would have liked to have learned more about almost every character seen in this little Dublin community.

(Photo: Eddie Shields as “Alfie” with the COMPANY of the musical "A MAN OF NO IMPORTANCE" from Terrence McNally, Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty, now playing at SpeakEasy Stage Company in Boston, MA. until March 22, 2025. Photo credit Nile Scott Studios)

As Alfie’s metaphorical bus ride toward ultimate artistic expression and self-awareness continues, he encounters numerous obstacles - both theatrical and personal – occasionally hitting a pot hole or two along the way. 

Perhaps not ten minutes into "A MAN OF NO IMPORTANCE" we quickly come to root for Alfie. 

As he tries to convey to others the depth of his love for theatre and for the written word, we also hope he can learn to love himself for who he is with the same kind of depth. 

The delightful Dublin-based musical bus trip that is "A MAN OF NO IMPORTANCE" continues at SpeakEasy Stage Company in Boston, MA. until March 22^nd and this is one bus you’ll definitely want to catch.

Coming up next at SpeakEasy Stage Company will be "JAJA'S AFRICAN HAIR BRAIDING" by Jocelyn Bioh, beginning May 2^nd, 2025.

For tickets and more information, contact the Box Office at # 617-933-8600 or visit www.speakeasystage.com. 

BUY TICKETS

Approximately 140 minutes with no intermission

Kevin T. Baldwin is a member of the American Theatre Critics Association (ATCA) 

@MetrmagReviews

@Theatre_Critics 

ABOUT THE SHOW

“Quiet, delicate, and lovely…first-rate musical storytelling!” - The New York Times

1960s Dublin is the setting for this charming musical about the redemptive power of theatre, love, and friendship.  

Bus conductor Alfie Byrne has two joys in life:  the poetry of Oscar Wilde and staging amateur productions with his local theatre troupe, the St. Imelda Players.  

But when church officials try to shut down his plans for a production of Wilde’s Salome, Alfie must confront the forces of bigotry – and his own shame -- over “the love that dare not speak its name.”   

This production will mark the New England Premiere of the recently reimagined version of this beloved classic, which includes the use of on-stage musicians. 

Paul Daigneault’s Final Production as SpeakEasy’s Artistic Director

ABOUT SPEAKEASY STAGE COMPANY

SPEAKEASY STAGE COMPANY is a non-profit theatre company located in the South End of Boston and is led by award-winning Producing Artistic Director Paul Daigneault. SPEAKEASY STAGE COMPANY was named the Pavilion Resident Theater for the Boston Center for the Arts in 2007 and produces 28 weeks of new plays and musicals each season at the Nancy and Ed Roberts Studio Theater in the Calderwood Pavilion at the Boston Center for the Arts.

speakeasystage.com