A Man of No Importance

This show gave me ALL THE FEELS!!!!! I've always loved Ahrens and Flaherty- and have wanted to see this show ever since I had heard of it. Sadly, this show is not done often (along with some of my other favorites- also ensemble- feel-tastic shows), and I was excited to see that it would be playing in hollywood while I was in town! This show most definitely did not disappoint! The ensemble played off of each other fantastically- the individual characters as separate interesting beings as well as the entire group as a cohesive unit. It is apparent that the group was well-rehearsed, well-directed, and well-chosen (kudos to the director and stage manager). The direction and design worked very well for the diagonal-thrust setting. As a ... full review

I'm a tough audience - and this production, under the brilliant direction of Janet Miller, is exquisite in its direction, music, acting, lighting and staging. I'm not a musical theatre fan because most musical theatre I've experienced is so "schticky" - and it pulls me out of the story - and frankly, the acting is mediocre (at best). The opposite is true of this production. The acting from the get-go is superb - starting with actor Dominic McChesney - in nuance, poignancy and energy; the entire cast brings a synergy to the show that you can feel - and you can tell the depth of their work. I laughed, cried and my heart was deeply touched. Matt Steven's tender and poignant performance about his "Mary's cuddles" was Tony nomination mate... full review

Superb production. It was hotter than hell in the theatre, but we just could not leave because it was so wonderful. Not much more I can say without spoiling something for someone. Actors/singers were great. Musicians were perfect. Lighting wonderful. I would have made the mics hotter on some of the softer spoken actors, but I could hear them anyway. Did have trouble with the words to the most of the songs. Couldn't understand them. May have had to do with the awkward design of the stage, or the mics again. Some singers were easier to understand than others, particularly the male lead who was outstanding in every way. The director moved them around beautifully and did a pluperfect job with every aspect of this production. Janet M... full review

What a wonderful surprise! I didn't know anything about this show before I came to see it and it is just a delight! This show has an outstanding ensemble cast with a wonderful live band of "pub" musicians. The whole show pulls you into the story of Alfie Byrne, a bus conductor in Dublin, Ireland who lives by directing plays at his local church. As the story progresses you learn about Alfie's family, friends and fellow workers while Alfie struggles with his faith and discovers who he is and learns "you just have to love who you love." See this show and you won't be disappointed.... full review

Amazing!!! So very proud of Janet Miller and her cast and crew! I loved the story and how each character came to life... so happy to have seen this show! Congrats on a fabulous show and here is wishing you many more!... full review

Everything about this show was wonderful. A lovely story told with humor and heart performed by a great cast and masterfully directed. Go see this show!... full review

A lovely surprise. I didn't know this show and went on recommendations from friends. SO GLAD I DID. What a wonderful night, at the theatre! Kudos to all concerned. And a sincere, THANK YOU, for sharing your talents with this appreciative audience member.... full review

Given cherished memories of the wonderful L.A. premiere concert mounting for MTG by Nick DeGruccio in 2006, it's doubly gratifying to report that this first full-out staging stands completely on its own delightfully unforced, funny and touching terms. By putting the essential human requirements of script, score and casting front and center, Janet Miller and her heartfelt colleagues nail the property's tricky mix of delicacy and directness. Big huzzahs all around for fully realizing this specialized chamber musical, an extremely special event. ... full review

I tend to be a completist. For theatre, this means I tend to acquire all cast albums of a particular composing team. In practice, this means that I often jump at the chance to see a show I’ve only heard. So when I discovered that the Good People Theatre Company was doing a production of Ahrens/Flaherty‘s A Man of No Importance as part of the Hollywood Fringe Festival, I immediately went out an bought tickets. Well, I bought them for the wrong date, but I quickly got that fixed :-) . A Man of No Importance is one of A/F’s less frequently produced pieces, perhaps because it doesn’t work well in the gigantic Broadway houses. With a book by Terrance McNally, and based on the 1994 movie with Albert Finney, it tells the story of Alfie Byrne in ... full review