SecondStory Rep performs an important musical

Cast of A Man of No Importance (courtesy SecondStory Rep)

 A Man of No Importance
(now closed – through 6/7/26)
SecondStory Repertory, www.secondstoryrep.org
 
Terrence McNally (book) Stephen Flaherty (music) and Lynn Ahrens (lyrics) are the acclaimed team that created what many believe is one of the best musicals of the late 20^th Century, Ragtime. The team also created, just shortly after the debut of Ragtime in 1998, another important, but infrequently produced musical.
 
A Man of No Importance is about “the love than cannot be named,” and the confusion and shame in society imposed upon people who are so scared of homosexuality that they can’t even allow themselves to apply it personally. Alfie Byrne is a bus conductor who recites poetry, particularly Oscar Wilde’s work, to his regular bus passengers, who look forward to that ritual every day.
 
Along with his profession of bus conductor, Alfie’s passion is theater and he has dragged/convinced many townsfolk to try participating in his little shows, talented or talent-less. And sometimes they find themselves developing talents they never knew they could. But Alfie has to manage his deeply scary secret that he can barely think about.
 
Once his secret is revealed, predictably, some townsfolk condemn and revile him. But the stalwart bus riders provide surprising support and Alfie begins to learn to care for himself.
 
Based on the movie of the same name, the creators crafted beautiful songs that move the story forward and move the audience to tears. In the reliably excellent tech hands of SecondStory Rep, the simple, effective set allows director Micheal O’Hara to display multiple locations with changes of chairs, and Chris Nardine’s lean choreography to shine.
 
Frank Kohel leads this cast as Alfie. Frank has a lovely, diffident manner, and then suddenly, his big booming voice fills the space with power. The rest of the cast is a treat, as many of our older, experienced thespians joined in, demonstrating the talent we’ve come to know.
 
A few of those recognizable-to-many performers include Doug Fahl, Doug Knoop, and Loretta Deranleau Howard. Others have trod the boards at many of our regional companies or are returning to strut their stuff after some years of hiatus: Adam Granato, Alan Plaster, Shawn Torrey, Carrie Sleeper-Bowers, Max Lopuszynski, Erin Carter, Jessica Vit, McKenna Milici, and Eilish Rhoades complete the hard-working ensemble.
 
This is a “big” show! 13 performers in that tiny space is a lot. Still, everyone was able to manage, and the scenes never felt like they overwhelmed the stage. Bradetta Vines was kept extremely busy with all the costuming – in the period – she had to provide. Gabe Mangiante music directed a solid musical cohort, all crisp and professional.
 
Everyone did a great job. Since I saw closing, the cast was clearly emotional on this last day, and it infused the performance with even more heart and soul.

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