There is a scene in Glorious, playing at Stage West Calgary until April 4th, in which a character refers to a dog as being “a friend of Dorothy, as we all are.” I burst out laughing, but quickly shut my mouth when I realized I was the only one who got the joke ¬- a slang term for gay that was used as far back as World War 2.
“That joke goes over like a lead balloon, nobody gets that. I didn’t realize the ‘Friend of Dorothy’ reference was as obscure as it is,” gay actor Adam White told GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine.
“There are some definite in-jokes in the piece. It was written by an English writer that I understand is also gay, so he has a sensibility that may not be understood by all audiences. I find I have to point up the humor in some of the jokes, do something physically in order to highlight the fact that we just made a double entendre, or that this is a joke about Cole Porter’s sexuality.”
Glorious is the true story of Florence Foster Jenkins, the worst opera singer in the world who went on to sell out New York’s Carnegie Hall in October 1944. It is seen through the eyes of Cosme McMoon, played by White. While technically the story of Jenkins, it is the McMoon character that carries the show and adds the depth and heart to the script that would otherwise simply be about a delusional diva.
“I agree that the story is crafted that it is his story. Cosme is the one who undergoes the most amount of change and it is through his eyes that the audience needs to experience Florence. It is definitely an interesting journey and fun to play. For me he is really familiar, I don’t have to work that hard to find him because I get the sarcastic, witty accompanist. I enjoy playing him a lot.”
The gay character is played as intelligent and charming, a far cry from the usual stereotype.
“Playing a gay character who is not mincing and is well rounded, is great. I hope that I don’t have to play it up to much, and I find nothing more offensive than watching someone play flamboyantly gay. I don’t ever want to do anything like that in the portrayal. I have a couple of little physical cues that I use to highlight it. As an actor I have had more opportunities to play smart gay men than to play heterosexual romantic leads. In my career I want to make sure I don’t end up in a category that limits what I can play, but I do enjoy playing a good representation of a good man. He is smart and not stereotyped.”
The irony is in him playing the comedic “straight man” to Jenkins, played by Elizabeth Stepowski, and her equally delusional friends St. Clair (Bernard Cuffling) and Dorothy (Heather Lea MacCallum). The cast is rounded out by Ruth Brown, pulling double roles as the angry Mexican maid Maria and the outraged music fan Mrs. Verrinder-Gedge. Watching Florence make statements like “I thought it was so smart of you and that waiter to share cab fare [with that other man]” with no clue as to what Cosme was really doing is entertaining and hits home with many members of the LGBT community.
“That is one of the things I find most hilarious in that I really am in comedic terms the straight man in the show, but the non-straight character. I find it funny how that is constructed. It is a blast to play off of that. Florence is oblivious in a lot of ways but is also considerably older. That is something I recognize in people. I sing in a church choir and the congregation and choir is mostly older. Because it is a church I keep my sexuality under the radar but I do find that there are women of a certain age and experience that just assume things like roomates or ‘your friend.’ They don’t quite put two and two together. Florence’s consideration of Cosme’s lifestyle is a send up, it lives in real life.”
An interesting challenge for the cast was in acting alongside Bernard Cuffling, who also directed the show.
“To some degree it is a great thing. We have the luxury of a really long run in a Stage West show and actors can get bored and lazy and start changing or doing things to keep themselves interested. Our show is going to maintain a little bit more of its original blocking, setting and integrity because our director is there on a daily basis. There are challenges with someone who isn’t watching what’s happening trying to provide feedback. I came into it with more apprehension than I am leaving with, I would do it again.”
In short, Glorious is very much a gay show. In its presentation, innuendo, and strong, likeable gay character it will leave LGBT patrons smiling as they leave.
“The show is smart and sophisticated. A larger gay audience often do understand more. Some of the arias that are.... butchered in the performance are going to be more recognizable to the gay audiences than some other audiences. I do hope that we get some more educated and potentially gay leaning audiences that get the punch lines better. There is the aspect of ‘Diva worship’ that many gay men experience, and you can’t help but fall in love with this character of Florence who is larger than life and not afraid to step outside of the boundaries that other people want to set up for her. She is an icon and we get to live in her glory.“
