A Man of No Importance

The theater is set up with the idea of making the audience feel involved in the musical not just observing it. The actors approach the stage from every direction including behind and through the audience. The writing is a wit unseen in most musicals I've had to pleasure to enjoy. The actors renditions are "practically perfect in every way" to steal a line from a classic that none the less describes their performances completely. The music is intoxicating and seeps into your very soul. The musicians and singers are highly skilled and bring the charming songs to life in an infectious way that will keep you humming them all week long. My girlfriend and I can't stop breaking into "Books!" whenever there is a quiet moment. Overall I can'... full review

Uplifting, witty, polished, and fun. The script, lyrics, musicians, actors, staging, and setting were wonderful! It is a poignant story with universal relevance and the production was a truly satisfying experience!... full review

From the moment the irrepressible music started and the glorious sounds of the voices of this cast started singing, I was hooked. This small, and practically perfect, production had me at the first hints of Irish music and those amazing voices. Janet Miller and Corey Hirsch have achieved no small feat here with this upstart company. You should see it. It will warm your heart and soul and make you feel you've had a few pints on it too. I had thought the state of theatre in LA was quite sad lately, but this is the best piece of theatre with the most astounding music, acting and voices, and one of the gentlest and truly heartfelt professional performances I've seen in ..well, perhaps forever in LA! Go see it and have a pint on that too! ... full review

A Man of No Importance is a beautiful play, well written and with striking music. The production here is well-worth one’s time and effort. However, it is not the most dynamic production and while the performances are nuanced, they tend at times to recede into the rather mundane set (with the exception of standout Shirley Anne Hation). Perhaps this is due to the performers being amplified, which can become a crutch by allowing the actors to depend on the incongruous microphones. Oddly enough, at times it was difficult to hear the singers simply due to a lack of volume, and at times the staging constricted the performers putting them in untenable positions. So, while I really enjoyed the play, I think in the hands of a different director,... full review

Sometimes wishes do come true. Back in September of last year, following a superb concert staged reading of Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty’s A Man Of No Importance, I ended my review with a wish: “Isn’t it time that A Man Of No Importance got a fully-staged L.A. production?” Now, a mere nine months later, that wish comes true as director-choreographer extraordinaire Janet Miller and her new Good People Theater Company offer Los Angeles audiences that fully-staged A Man Of No Importance, as all-around perfect a production as this or any musical theater lover could possibly have wished for. Based on a 1994 film starring Albert Finney as the titular Man Of No Importance, the award-winning Lincoln Center musical adaptation transports ... full review

Truly theater as it should be: compelling, provocative and actually leaving the audience wanting more! Absolutely perfectly balanced. An extraordinary, talented cast created characters that made one want to sing along with them. The quality of every aspect of staging, music, lights, sound, costume and set filled every moment with a great deal to care about. It is so good the company made it look easy. ... full review

A veeery, very, very sweet show. Wonderful acting and singing. Very sweet. Difference between like it and love it for me is just the content, the show itself. My mom would LOVE it!... full review

"A Man of No Importance" has it all - a tight & witty script, good music, talented cast, great costumes, a minimal but well-used set and brilliant direction. The accents were superb & the message - "Love Who You Love", really resonated with me. I LOVE this show!... full review

I was very moved by this production! Janet Miller is clearly a brilliant director. The show moved seamlessly with a realism that is lacking from far too many shows these days. Heart-wrenching performances from Dominic McChesney, Shirley Anne Hatton, and Dominic McChesney, and an all-around beautifully cast ensemble. From the costumes, to the lighting, to the set, it was a wonderful experience. WELL DONE! Can't wait to see their next production. ... full review

It's a very "classic" kind of Broadway show for the Fringe, but it is also perfectly placed in a small, intimate theater -- because the people in the story are small, ordinary people, and the view of their emotions on display is intimate and moving. That said, the production has a surprising size, like one of those magic bags in Harry Potter that is small on the outside but surprisingly capacious on the inside. There are only four musicians on stage, but they sound like a full orchestra. There are a few chairs and tables, but they become a church social hall, an apartment, a pub, and, even a bus in motion. The show is about the power of friendship in a time of intolerance, and the cast supports each other in an amazing way -- there's n... full review