The Pioneer Theatre Company has a unique play for fans to enjoy during the holiday season.
Starting in the 1920s, Cosmé McMoon is enjoying living in New York City with his friends while trying to make a name for himself by writing music, while also trying to pay the rent. He runs into Florence Foster Jenkins, a somewhat sheltered woman who is vigorously working towards her goal of becoming a revered singer of good music. She tells him she’s looking for someone to be brutally honest in his corrections and coaching to help her prepare for her recital. There’s only one problem: she can’t sing. However, she doesn’t care about what the newspaper critics say — trust me, the irony isn’t lost on me — and she continues to sing with gusto. Faced with her persistence, and the need to pay his rent, he agrees. One recital turned into two, which turned into a lifetime partnership.
Then the whole thing starts to get out of hand, with the crowds getting bigger and bigger, the recitals getting longer and a fanbase that starts growing to prompt the proposal of more events to lead up to the ultimate dream for both of them: playing Carnegie Hall.
With a sad turn of events, it leaves the audience realizing that one day the only thing we’ll have to look back on are the souvenirs.
A Unique Play
The play is unique in the sense that it’s a two man show, and takes place in only two locations.
The staging remains simple, a staircase for dramatic entrances, a piano and a couple of chairs and benches downstage for emotional pauses. While the dialogue narrates the story of these exciting events, the setting takes place in only two locations. The actors are forced to move the story along with their voice, which can make the play feel like it’s dragging on.
The play follows two timelines, a commentary narrated by Cosmé McMoon, and the present events performed. While they utilized lighting to make the switch from narration to present-day events, the beginning of the first and second acts took place in this weird limbo between the two.
Entertaining Performances
With nothing else to entertain the audience, Linda Mugleston and Bob Walton had to lean into their characters’ reactions.
Jenkins is a woman who held on to her dreams with a child-like naivete, and chased them with a vigorous ambition. For this, Mugleston leans into her voice and the delivery of her lines. She delivered Jenkins gusto by attacking her character’s actions with zero hesitation, and fully committed herself to the freeing sense of acting without caring about what others think.
McMoon is much more reserved, yet not without judgement. For this, Walton leans into his expressions, with many of them delivered directly to the audience, connecting with them as if they’re his best friends and in on some inside joke.
Both actors are able to project these reactions off the stage and connect with the audience delivering some entertaining performances.
“Souvenir” will be performed from Dec. 6 through Dec. 21.
