A Man of No Importance

Rating:
Summary: A beautiful soaring work that grows on you.
Review: As far as musical theatre goes, there have been very few teams in the last decade or so that have been able to create as amazing and beautiful pieces of theatrical brilliance as Flaherty and Ahrens. And thank God the two have been able to impart so many great works. From "Once On This Island" to "Ragtime", it seemed like they would never be able to top themselves.

And then this comes to my attention.

At first listen, I was disappointed. I was expecting something along the lines of a new "Ragtime"- with an Irish twist. And no, "A Man of No Importance" is perhaps not as instantly accessible as the infectious "Ragtime" is, but give it a few tries. It has quickly become my favorite Flaherty/Ahrens score.

In most musicals, there are one or two songs that require a quick push of the "skip" button on my CD player, but "A Man of No Importance" is an exception. There isn't a single clunker in this collection. From the lovely title song to the beautiful "Welcome to the World", this score soars with a jubilant and sometimes heartrendering outlook that can develop its characters in as much as a three minute song.

The plot can be easily discerned from the songs and with a little help from the more-than-complete synopsis included with the CD's liner notes. Based on the 1994 film, "A Man of No Importance" tells the tale of Alfie Byrne, a Dublin bus driver determined to put on a church production of Oscar Wilde's "Salome". Along the way, he confronts his own sexuality and changes the lives of those around him.

One of the main assets behind the success of the score is the plot. Unlike the somewhat more distant "Ragtime", "A Man of No Importance" deals with characters not unlike people you may have known. Perhaps it is even possible to see yourself in Alfie Byrne. This is, for the most part, more than can be said with the class-driven society in "Ragtime". Indeed, even the conclusion of "A Man of No Importance" reflects the uncertainties and difficulties of social acceptance present in modern society; a far cry from the pat and dry ending of the very sentimental "Ragtime".

It's hard to pick out a few musical highlights, but if pressed, I would choose "The Cuddles That Mary Gave", a funny and yet mournful recollection of an older man's dead wife, "Confession", where Alfie almost confesses his love for another man to the local priest, "Art", an infectious and funny melody in which Alfie faces the difficulties of putting on a play, "The Streets of Dublin", a poetic ode to the city of Dublin set to a driving rock beat, and "Love Who You Love", a beautiful melody that is passionate and yet so very realistic in its idiomatic language. Consider the lyrics:

"Your common sense tells you
Best not to begin
But your fool heart
Cannot help plungin' in
And nothin' and no-one
Can stand in your way
You just have to love who you love"

Rating:
Summary: Very tuneful and touching.
Review: Being a fan of Ahrens and Flaherty (I have all of their CDs besides the Once On This Island London CD), it came as no surprise that this play was also very strong. The music is very easy to listen to casually. I particularly enjoy "Princess" and "The Streets of Dublin," but all of the songs are very strong. I reccomend this score to anyone who likes musical theatre or who is familiar with Ahrens and Flaherty. You won't be disappointed. The Irish flair also adds a bit of a magic touch to the already charming music. Take my word for it. You won't regret purchasing this CD.

Rating:
Summary: A show of much much much much importance!!!!
Review: I have been a major fan of this collaborative team for years and when the cd came out I was scouring the stores trying to find it as they opened. I eventually ordered it off amazon and have been listening to if for the past few days. It is amazing. Its hard to explain the it has some of their most simple music and lyrics yet the most beautiful. When the first notes play I feel myself relax and get drawn into the world they made. The lyrics are perfect down to earth and descriptive without being too poetic. Yet at the same time they are. Every time I hear it I discover something new not only about the show and story but about their talent. Its totally different from anything they done which I respect them for. And it has their style, certain chords that are in other shows that make them known for who they are. Like this show, their music is full of contradictions constantly showing that they know much more than they give, and always leave you wanting more. And they deliver far past expectations over and over again. These people are my idols and I could only hope to be up to their caliber some day. But until then its great to have something this wonderful to learn from. It is a VERY classy show. Very low key and wonderful to listen to. Its an amazing and wonderful show and had me drawn in from the very beginning..and keep you captivated until the end...and into the really touching bonus track.

Rating:
Summary: Amazing Music, Wish i had seen the play
Review: On a whim I bought this CD and it's one of the best musicals I've ever listened to. Several different styles are used, differences between characters, etc.
The CD is just Amazing, I can listen to it over and over again.
Plus, I love Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens' musicals.

Again, this cd is wonderful. Go for it.