February 17 - March 13, 2005

Book by Terrance McNally, music by Stephen Flaherty, lyrics by Lynn Ahrens. Good Theater is proud to present the Maine premiere of this recent off-Broadway musical from the creators of Ragtime. Alfie Byrne (played by Timothy Bate) is an unmarried bus conductor who leads a very ordinary life. However, his life becomes beautiful whenever he is directing a show for his community theater using all of the folks who ride his bus as the actors. Over the course of the play, Alfie learns a great lesson about life and love. With an award winning score, A Man of No Importance will warm your heart during Maine’s cold winter. In the Good Theater tradition of Baby and Little Me, this is a must see. The show also stars Good Theater favorites Kelly Caufield, Stephen Underwood, Amy Roche, Lee K. Paige, Glenn Anderson, Lois Sturtevant, Betsy Melarkey Dunphy, and William Sandstead and features newcomers to our stage Graham Allen, Laura Darrell, Jeffrey Roberts, Barney Martin, Alan McLucas, and Laura Harris.

Reviews

Portland Press Herald, February 21,2005
"...it is a sweet little gem. Director Brian Allen has once again assembled a cast and pit band that will knock your socks off." "This role seems written for Timothy Bate who does some of his best work to date as the kind, dreamy, but troubled Alfie." "But the stunning thing about the show is the well-prepared ensemble cast which features some of southern Maine's best vocal talent. It's hard to place one above the other since each performer also brings warmth, depth & personality to their characters."

The Portland Phoenix
"The young Good Theater has quickly become a winsome, exuberant, and unpretentious addition to Portland's best professional companies. Their production of this award-winning musical is so fluid, well-paced, and seamlessly charming that it's easy to forget the one proscenium as its players bustle within their own in St. Imelda's." "Director Brian Allen has assembled a singularly excellent group of actors - impressive not only for their individual talents but for their remarkable, hand-in-glove coherence as a cast - and he moves them about the space of the St. Lawrence with an unerring eye." "Timothy Bate's Alfie is simply superlative; his humble enthusiasm is infectious and the trauma of his inner troubles delicately wrought." "Graham Allen has a sinewy candor, and it's a joy to watch him flex his unaffected, working-class masculinity." "Kelly Caulfield's Adele is radiant with her stunning voice and endearing balancing act between ingénue and more worldly girl, and Amy Roche as Alfie's sister Lily brings wit, compassion, and a great range to a meaty comic role"

The Forecaster, February 23, 2005
"...a contemporary musical of unusual power..." "Imagination and stagecraft collide head-on with reality in Dublin, Ireland, in a modern American musical of unusual power & persuassion." "Timothy Bate delivers an impressive performance in the title role, and he's ably supported by a cast of 15 under the direction of Good Theater co-founder Brian P. Allen." "Good Theater deserves raves for selecting this remarkably moving Off-Broadway musical drama. Plus, the company delivers an outstanding, memorable and profoundly thought-provoking production that ought to be on the must-see list for any Maine theater enthusiast."

Cast & Crew

Lyrics by Lynn Ahrens
Directed by Brian P. Allen Musical Director Aaron Robinson
Alfie Byrne - Timothy Bate
Robbie Fay - Graham Allen
Adele Rice - Kelly Caufield
Lily Byrne - Amy Roche
Carney/Oscar Wilde - Stephen Underwood
Baldy O’shea - Glenn Anderson
Kate - Laura Darrell
Mrs. Curtin - Betsy Melarkey Dunphy
Peter/Breton Beret - Bill Ellis
Sully O’Hara - Alan McLucas
Rasher Flynn/Carson - Barney Martin
Mrs. Patrick - Laura Harris
Miss Crowe - Lee K. Paige
Father Kenny - Jeffrey Roberts
Ernie Lally - William Sandstead
Mrs. Grace/Kitty Farrelly - Lois Sturtevant
Stage Manager - Karen Dunton
Set Design - Janet Montgomery
Lighting Design - Jamie Grant
Costumes - Joan McMahon
Technical Director - Stephen Underwood
Assistant Technical Director - Craig Robinson

n