Music by Stephen Flaherty

Lyrics by Lynn Ahrens

Book by Terrence McNally

Direction by Joe Mantello

Orchestrations by William David Brohn and Christopher Jahnke

Musical Staging by Jonathan Butterell

 

 

Based on the 1994 Albert Finney movie of the same name, A Man of No Importance tells the story of Alfie Byrne, a lonely Dublin bus conductor who wants to stage Oscar Wilde's Salome at his church. In fighting for the play, Alfie is finally forced to confront his own sexuality and take a stand in the world.

The show was part of the Lincoln Center 2002-3 season and ran from Sept 12, 2002- December 29th, 2002. The show received the Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Off-Broadway Musical. A cast album was recorded on December 16th, 2002, and released in April 2003

Cast

Alfie Byrne-- Roger Rees

Father Kenny-- Jarlath Conroy

Mrs. Grace/Kitty Farrelly-- Katherine McGrath

Miss Crowe-- Barbara Marineau

Mrs. Curtin-- Patti Perkins

Baldy O'Shea-- Ronn Carroll

Rasher Flynn/Carson-- Michael McCormick

Ernie Lally-- Martin Moran

Mrs. Patrick-- Jessica Molaskey

Sully O'Hara-- Sean McCourt

Peter/Breton Beret-- Luther Creek

Lily Byrne-- Faith Prince

Carney/Oscar Wilde-- Charles Keating

Robbie Fay-- Steven Pasquale

Adele Rice-- Sally Murphy

Songs

Act One:

  1. "A Man of no Importance"-- Alfie, Company
  2. "The Burden of Life"-- Lily
  3. "Going Up"-- Carney, The St. Imelda's Players
  4. "Princess"-- Adele
  5. "First Rehearsal"-- Alfie, The St. Imelda's Players
  6. "The Streets of Dublin"-- Robbie, Company
  7. "Books"-- Carney, Lily
  8. "Man in the Mirror"-- Alfie, Oscar Wilde
  9. "Love Who You Love"--Alfie

Act Two:

  1. "Our Father"-- Mrs. Patrick, Company
  2. "Confession"-- Alfie, Robbie, Father Kenny
  3. "The Cuddles Mary Gave"-- Baldy
  4. "Art"-- Alfie, St. Imelda's Players
  5. "A Man of No Importance" (Reprise)-- Mrs. Patrick, Breton Beret, Sully O'Hara
  6. "Confusing Times"-- Carney
  7. "Love Who You Love"(Reprise)--Robbie
  8. "Man in the Mirror" (Reprise)-- Oscar Wilde, Company
  9. "Tell Me Why"-- Lily
  10. "A Man of No Importance"(Reprise)-- Company
  11. "Love Who You Love (Reprise)-- Adele
  12. "Welcome to the World"-- Alfie

 

Sounds

1) "A Man of No Importance" (Company)

2) "Princess" (Sally Murphy)

3) "Streets of Dublin" (Steven Pasquale)

4) "Love Who You Love" (Roger Rees)

5) "Art" ( Barbara Marineau and Roger Rees)

6) "Cuddles Mary Gave" (Ronn Carroll)

7) "Welcome to the World" (Roger Rees)

 

Quotables

  • "The lyric contains the real names and occupations of people who actually lived and worked in Dublin in the 60's. I wove them into the song as a way of portraying Robbie Faye's poetic heart-he finds his sort of poetry in real life while Alfie Byrne is afraid of life and turns to literature for his inspiration."

Lynn Ahrens on "Streets of Dublin."

 

  • "I hoped to capture the simplicity and unaffectedness of village life in this song sung by Alfie Byrne’s “princess.” My intent was to charm the listener the way Adele charms Mr. Byrne.

Stephen Flaherty on "Princess."

 

  • "I trust that history will discover the merits of the underestimated "A Man of No Importance," the Terrence McNally-Lynn Ahrens-Stephen Flaherty show, which I consider the best traditional musical of the season."

Linda Winer, Newsday

  • "Wilde is very much the muse and guiding spirit in this gentle, deeply moving musical, whose beautiful, pristinely crafted score and literate book are the work of the "Ragtime" team: lyricist Lynn Ahrens, composer Stephen Flaherty and playwright Terrence McNally."

 

  • "Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens's delightful score mixes Irish folk with a pinch of pop and show biz dazzle. Add Terrence McNally's book, which nicely fleshes out the supporting characters, and you have an unabashedly sentimental work of human drama that resonates with more force and yes, importance, than its humble scale would suggest."

David Cote, Time Out New York

  • "Viewers who find themselves touched by Alfie's struggle.... can easily appreciate Flaherty's warm-hearted music. Inspired by Irish folk tunes, Flaherty delivers reels, ballads and sacred music alive with authentic spirit and expression. A delicate waltz, "Love Who You Love," is reprised now and again, its wistful title phrase falling like drops of the purest spring water."

     

  • "This latest and frequently lovely piece by "Ragtime" makers Terrence McNally (book), Stephen Flaherty (music) and Lynn Ahrens, (lyrics) is an exceptionally well-crafted musical in practically every way."

    Michael Sommers, Newark Star-Ledger

 

  • Best Musical
  • Best Music ( Stephen Flaherty)
  • Best Lyrics (Lynn Ahrens)
  • Best Book of a Musical (Terrence McNally)
  • Best Direction of a Musical (Joe Mantello)
  • Best Supporting Actor (Charles Keating and Steven Pasquale)

 

CD Information

A Man of No Importance
Original Cast Recording 2003 Jay Records CDJAY1369

 

 

 

 

The Latest

Works

Anastasia
Bartok The Magnificent
Christmas Carol
Dessa Rose
Glorious Ones

Loving Repeating
Lucky Stiff
Man of No Importance
My Favorite Year
Once On This Island

Ragtime
Schoolhouse Rock
Seussical
Twice Upon a Time
With Voices Raised

 
Media and Interactive

Articles
Photos
Sound Clips
Video Clips

Blog
Guestbook
Links
Contact




This site is © Copyright Ronni Krasnow, Lynn Ahrens & Stephen Flaherty.All Rights Reserved.
Web templates