A Man of No Importance (musical)
A Man of No Importance is a musical with music by
Stephen Flaherty, lyrics by Lynn Ahrens and a book by
Terrence McNally, based on the 1994 Albert Finney lm,
A Man of No Importance. It tells the story of an amateur
theatre group in Dublin and their leader, who is deter-
mined to stage a version of Salome at his church, despite
the objections of church authorities.
1 Production history
The musical ran from September 12, 2002 to December
29, 2002 in the Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater at Lincoln
Center in New York City, as part of the Lincoln Cen-
ter Theater 2002-03 season. The production was di-
rected by Joe Mantello and choreographed by Jonathan
Butterell. It won the 2003 Outer Critics Circle Award
for Best O-Broadway Musical. The original cast in-
cluded Roger Rees as Ale Byrne, Jarlath Conroy as
Father Kenny, Jessica Molaskey as Mrs. Patrick, Sean
McCourt as Sully O'Hara, Luther Creek as Peter/Breton
Beret, Faith Prince as Lily Byrne, Sally Murphy as Adele,
Ronn Carroll as Baldy, Charles Keating as Carney/Oscar
Wilde, and Steven Pasquale as Robbie Fay. A cast album
was recorded in 2002 and released in April 2003.
The musical was produced by Acting Up Stage Theatre
Company at the Berkeley Street Theatre in Toronto, On-
tario, Canada and ran from March 7 to 22, 2008. Ale
was played by Douglas E. Hughes, and Lezlie Wade di-
rected the production.[1]
Regan and De Wynter produced the musical at The Union
Theatre, Southwark, where it ran from November 11,
2009 to December 5, 2009. It starred Paul Clarkson as
Ale and Paul Monaghan as Carney/Oscar Wilde. The
production received unanimously positive reviews. The
show transferred to the Arts theatre in the West End for
a limited season, opening on February 10, 2010 follow-
ing a single preview on February 9, 2010, running until
27 February 2010.[2]
Salisbury Playhouse presented a revival of the musical[3]
featuring a cast of actor musicians from April 25, 2013
to May 18, 2013, directed by Gareth Machin and starring
Mark Meadows as Ale and Fra Fee as Robbie.[4]
Renowned amateur company Sedos staged the show [5]
from 2327 July 2013 at the Bridewell Theatre, Lon-
don. Reviewing this production, Greg Mitchell said, When Breton Beret propositions Ale, Ale is trapped
McNallys script is, as you would expect, masterful. [6] between his own shame and desire, but Oscar Wilde again
The Australian Premire of the work was performed by advises him that the way to eliminate temptation is by
1
the Sydney University Musical Theatre Ensemble at the
King Street Theatre, Newtown, from the 58 August
2015.[7] Directed by Curtis Goding and Music Directed
by Douglas Emery, the show starred Aidan Kane as Al-
e, Natasha Stanton as Lily and Robert Boddington as
Carney/Oscar Wilde. The sold-out production received
strong reviews, described as pleasant, interesting, rivet-
ing and moving [8] and a hidden gem.[9]
2 Synopsis
Act 1
In 1964 in Dublin, Ireland, Ale Byrne is the director of
an amateur theatre troup that has been shut down by Fa-
ther Kenny. The group, The St. Imeldas Players, is based
at the church. Ale, a bus conductor, wants to stage a pro-
duction of Oscar Wilde's Salome at his church, despite the
objections of church authorities.
As he reects on events, the actors in the troup become,
in eect, a Greek chorus and take him through a typi-
cal day of A Man of No Importance, in the form of a
play in which he is not the director but the star. As the
play unfolds, the people in Ales life appear: his sister
Lily, a handsome bus driver Robbie Fay, and newcomer
Adele Rice. Ale performs by speaking Wildes words
to Adele, impressing the bus passengers (who are mem-
bers of the acting group). As Ale prepares dinner for
himself and Lily, he tells her that he has met a woman.
Lily has delayed marriage with her boyfriend Mr. Car-
ney to take care of Ale until he marries, and is happy
for him (Burden of Life). Ale explains that he is not
interested in marriage to Adele he wants her to act in
Salome. Frustrated, Lily castigates Ale for wasting
his time in amateur theatre. After an evening in a pub,
Ale returns home, confused about his true identity. As
he gazes at himself in the mirror, he sees Oscar Wilde
in a dream, and admits that he loves Robbie (Man in
the Mirror). After a rehearsal of Salome, Lily invites
Adele for Sunday dinner, saying that Ale is hesitant to
speak for himself (Burden of Life Reprise). As Al-
e is walking her home, Adele tells him that in her home
town she has a boyfriend, John, and starts crying. Un-
derstanding about secrets, Ale advises her in the song
Love Who You Love.
2 6 EXTERNAL LINKS

giving in. [2] Union 'Man of No Importance' Transfers to West End

whatsonstage.com
Act 2 [3] A Man of No Importance salisburyplayhouse.com

As Mrs. Patrick sings a hymn (Our Father), Ale is [4] News whatsonstage.com
confessing to Father Kenny, as he tells about his minor [5] A Man of No Importance sedos.co.uk
sins. Ale hears Robbie in a disembodied voice, but he
cannot confess to his feelings (Confession). The troup [6] Theatre Review Archived January 12, 2015, at the
is rehearsing, when Adele suddenly cries and tells Al- Wayback Machine. thegayuk.com
e that she is pregnant, then leaves. At an emergency [7] museatusyd
church meeting the play Salome is deemed blasphe-
mous (Confusing Times), Monsignor cancels it and or- [8] Reviews stagewhispers.com.au
ders that the St. Imeldas Players be ended. Ale, feel-
[9] A Hidden Gem honisoit.com
ing sad, goes to the pub and propositions Breton Beret.
Breton takes Ales hand, caresses him, but next punches [10] Simonson, Robert. "'Hairspray' Leads 2003 Drama Desk
Ale. Others beat him and he asks for Robbie. Lily and Award Nominations Playbill, May 1, 2003
Carney take Ale home, but the news spreads that Ale is
gay. Finally, Ale is alone at St. Imeldas hall and thinks
back on his life, coming to know that he can no longer 6 External links
hide (Welcome to the World). A ray of sunlight enters
the dimly lit room as Robbie walks in. Now a member of Lortel Database listing
the new acting troupe, Robbie reads a passage from Oscar
Wildes "The Ballad of Reading Gaol". A Man of No Importance at the Music Theatre In-
ternational website
Ahrens and Flaherty Website
3 Songs

4 Awards and nominations

The play won the 2003 Outer Critics Circle Award, Out-
standing O-Broadway Musical and the 2003 GLAAD
Media Awards, Outstanding New York Theater: Broad-
way and O-Broadway.
The play was nominated for the 2003 Drama Desk
Award:[10]

Outstanding Book of a Musical, Terrence McNally

Outstanding Director of a Musical, Joe Mantello
Outstanding Lyrics, Lynn Ahrens
Outstanding Music, Stephen Flaherty
Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical, Charles
Keating
Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical, Steven
Pasquale
Outstanding Musical

5 References
[1] Jones, Kenneth.Born to Be Wilde: 'Man of No Impor-
tance' Musical to Get Canadian Premiere March 7, play-
bill.com, February 4, 2008
 3

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