Glorious! – Theatre Royal, Windsor and Touring

Wendi Peters and Matthew James Morrison in Glorious! at Theatre Royal Windsor and Touring. Picture: Chris Davis

Glorious! was reviewed at the Theatre Royal, Windsor where it continues until 21 March 2026. The tour continues until 30 May 2026.

Star rating: three stars ★ ★ ★ ✩ ✩

This true story of the ‘worst singer in the world’ reached modern audiences in 2016 with the premiere of Florence Foster Jenkins, the film named after its leading protagonist and starring Meryl Streep and Hugh Grant. Despite an Oscar nomination for Streep and various Golden Globe nominations it seems to have passed many people by. Peter Quilter’s biographical play with music may therefore be some people’s first introduction to Jenkins and her off-key repertoire.

Presumably for frugal production purposes and possibly to make the play a more focused biopic, Quilter has reduced the cast down to four which works to its advantage. Jenkins’ manager and long-time companion St Clair Bayfield is no more and the focus instead is given over to the sceptical devotion afforded to the performer from her pianist Cosmé McMoon.

Matthew James Morrison captures the initial cynicism of McMoon’s agreement to accompany Jenkins’ musical soirées, sentimentally transitioning to become one of her closest allies. The play is written from McMoon’s perspective as narrator with Morrison embracing the opportunity to stand in front of the curtain to address the audience while slipping effortlessly into the role of Jenkins’ right-hand man. While his quiet intonation befits McMoon’s softness, a few dials on the volume button would not go amiss, particularly against Wendi Peters’ powerful projection.

Peters embraces the title role wholeheartedly. She personifies the quirky eccentricities of Jenkins, the socialite heiress who loved to sing despite her inability to hit the right notes. Peters is the real star of this show. She embodies Jenkins’ misguided belief that she could sing and transports the audience with her to the remarkable concert at Carnegie Hall.

The cast is completed by Sioned Jones as Jenkins’ friend and supporter Dorothy and Caroline Gruber as the farcical Italian maid Maria and irascible Mrs Verrinder-Gedge.

The transportable sets work well for a touring production although, having been led to believe that the Carnegie Hall stage was bedecked with flowers for Jenkins’ final performance, the disappointing floral decor diminished the vision of this ‘glorious’ performance.

Some may well have laughed at Jenkins, but the overwhelming message that comes across in Kirk Jameson’s production, originally at Manchester’s Hope Mill Theatre, is that no one could deny that Jenkins lived her dream. Her loyal followers may have appreciated that her vocals were not on key but her flamboyant costumes and devil-may-care attitude meant that for every hater there were many others that loved her unique take on life.

Julie Watterston