Review: ‘A Man of No Importance’ soars at A Noise Within

From left: David Nevell (Carney) and Kasey Mahaffy (Alfie) in "A Man of No Importance" at A Noise Within (Photo by Craig Schwartz)

Seamlessly directed by A Noise Within’s co-artistic director Julia Rodriguez Elliott and excellently acted and sung, “A Man of No Importance” is the kind of mesmerizing musical that captures your spirit and gives you something to think about as well.

Set in Dublin, Ireland in 1964, the story focuses on Alfie Byrne (Kasey Mahaffy), a bus conductor who reads poetry to his passengers and brings objectively handsome bus driver Robbie (a well-cast CJ Eldred) a Guinness beer and sandwich for lunch every day.

From left: Kasey Mahaffy (Alfie) and CJ Edred (Robbie) in "A Man of No Importance" at A Noise Within (Photo by Craig Schwartz)

Alfie also has a flair for directing plays in a church hall featuring local townspeople who love “Going Up” on stage and is eager to start rehearsing Oscar Wilde’s 1896 play “Salome” next. When the comely Adele (Analisa Idalia) gets on his bus one day, he knows he has found just the woman to perform in the title role and its “dance of the seven veils.”

Kasey Mahaffy (Alfie), center, with ensemble cast of "A Man of No Importance" at A Noise Within (Photo by Craig Schwartz)

After work, Alfie lives with his sister Lily (Juliana Sloan), likes to cook international cuisine like spaghetti, and reads a lot, with a special fascination for the flamboyant Wilde (David Nevell), who makes imaginary appearances to help Alfie come to terms with himself as the “Man in the Mirror.”  

The biggest obstacle to Alfie’s dream of mounting “Salome” is not finding actors, a costumer, stage manager, or any of other necessary components of staging a play (this play is somewhat metatheatrical in that way). Rather, it’s convincing the church’s Father Kenny (Neill Fleming) and other Catholic denizens that the play is not morally degenerate.

From left: Kasey Mahaffy (Alfie) and Juliana Sloan (Lily) in "A Man of No Importance" at A Noise Within (Photo by Craig Schwartz)

Among those convinced that it is include Carney (Nevell) and Alfie’s sister Lily, who, incidentally, have been waiting to be married until Alfie gets settled first. Their scathing duet “Books” is both terrifying and hilarious in condemning literature as promoting wayward thinking.

Songs are accompanied by live music at the back of the stage directed by Rob Bagheri, also on keyboard, along with Dylan Gorenberg on guitar, David Catalan on woodwinds, Julian Cantrell on bass and Natalie Brejcha on violin.

David Nevell (Carney), center, with ensemble cast of "A Man of No Importance" at A Noise Within (Photo by Craig Schwartz)

And the cast’s singing, whether solos or harmonies, is transporting, as is their acting. Mahaffy, a company regular, absolutely stuns in embodying Alfie, capturing the humble mannerisms and keen brightness of a quiet man with a poetic heart. The entire ensemble performs beautifully as well, including fluidly rearranging the set between scenes (scenic design by Francois-Pierre Couture, with lighting by Ken Booth).

Two actors move effortlessly between two disparate roles — Nevell as the conservative Carney and ostentatious Wilde, and Jack Zubieta as the clueless bell-bottomed rocker Peter and darkly seductive Breton Beret, who tries to pick up Alfie in a pub Robbie takes him to after singing about real life in the “Streets of Dublin.” Shoutout to Ed F. Martin as stage manager Baldy for his precisely timed one-liners.

From left: Analisa Idalia (Adele) and Kasey Mahaffy (Alfie) in "A Man of No Importance" at A Noise Within (Photo by Craig Schwartz)

Also shoutout to resident costume designer Angela Balogh Calin for period costuming so perfect it goes without saying, including Peter's psychadelic pants and Adele's powder blue coat and hat.

With its book written by Terrence McNally in 2002 based on the 1994 film of the same name, and music by Stephen Flaherty and lyrics by Lynn Ahrens, “A Man of No Importance” is ultimately a play about love in all its forms (“Love Who You Love”). Though it begins gently and delightfully, the second act especially snowballs in momentum — including a shocking scene aided by fight choreographer Kenneth R. Merckx, Jr. — provoking a range of emotions.

From left: David Nevell (Oscar Wilde) and Kasey Mahaffy (Alfie) in "A Man of No Importance" at A Noise Within (Photo by Craig Schwartz)

It’s all so beautifully staged by A Noise Within, seemingly with an Irish twinkle in its eye, especially Mahaffy’s sublime performance and the cast’s enthusiastic singing, that your spirit will be uplifted despite yourself. “A Man of No Importance” is just the kind of must-see theatre we need right now.

“A Man of No Importance” continues through June 1 at A Noise Within, 3352 E. Foothill Blvd., Pasadena, with performances Thursdays and Fridays at 7:30 p.m., Saturdays at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., and Sundays at 2 p.m. For tickets and information, call (626) 356-3100 or visit anoisewithin.org. Run time is 2 hour and 20 minutes, including intermission.