Theater Review: A MAN OF NO IMPORTANCE (SpeakEasy Stage Company at Calderwood Pavilion in Boston)

A MAN OF GRAVE IMPORTANCE

Each of us is both a man of no importance and of grave importance, which is why A Man of No Importance—crafted by musical theatre’s top-tier triumvirate of Terrence McNally (book), Lynn Ahrens (lyrics), and Stephen Flaherty (music)—feels so universally appealing, touching, topical and urgent. This intimate musical becomes even more so through the conceit established in John Doyle’s 2022 reimagined staging, where actors double as musicians, seamlessly weaving in and out of both roles. With performers playing and singing from the thrust stage and aisles, the audience is surrounded by the music and lyrics, creating a deeply immersive experience. The evocative lighting and set design (wonderful work by Karen Perlow and Jennifer McFarland Lord) further enhance the production’s intimacy and emotional resonance.

Eddie Shields and Rebekah Rae Robles

Keith Robinson and Eddie Shields

Set in a 1964 Dublin community deeply rooted in Catholic faith and traditional values—where heterosexual marriage, children, and church define one’s place—the story follows bus conductor Alfie Byrne (masterfully rendered by Eddie Shields) as he comes to terms with his sexuality while daring to mount an amateur production of Oscar Wilde’s risqué Salome in a church space. The metaphor of theatre as a refuge—an escape from one’s troubles, a means of becoming someone else, and a source of solace in creating ephemeral art within a community—is deeply relatable. It’s certainly quite apt for Alfie and for the mysterious stranger (beautifully played and sung by Rebekah Rae Robles) who boards his bus one morning with a shameful secret of her own.

Eddie Shields and Will McGarrahan

Jennifer Ellis and company

Alfie lives with his long-suffering, well-meaning sister Lily (the well-cast and always superb Aimee Doherty), who repeatedly rejects the not-unwanted advances of local butcher Carney (a nuanced Sam Simahk) until she can see her brother settled and married. The clash between Carney’s involvement in Alfie’s theatre production (he’s a sucker for the spotlight) and the contradictory morals of the church he piously follows only deepens his resentment toward Alfie, further escalating the drama.

Will McGarrahan and Kathy St. George

Keith Robinson (center) with Aimee Doherty, Dave Rabinow, Sam Simahk, and Billy Meleady

Each cast member deserves recognition for their excellence in both their roles and their impressive musical skills. Kathy St. George literally stops the show with her performance in the rousing ensemble number “Art,” a celebration of the creative process behind mounting a production. Every role Kerry A. Dowling touches turns to gold, and this is no exception. Meagan Lewis-Michelson commands the stage with a striking presence, deftly executing beautiful clarinet passages with barely a breath between them and her singing. Keith Robinson delivers a heartbreakingly perfect performance as Alfie’s best friend and the driver of the bus Alfie conducts. In one brilliant example of the staging by SpeakEasy’s artistic director Paul Daigneault (his final production before stepping down after 33 years), the bus wheel becomes a hand drum!

Eddie Shields and Keith Robinson (center) with the company

Eddie Shields

Daigneault explains that the play is about “honoring your true, authentic self and the fear that if you are your true authentic self, will you still belong? By acknowledging who you truly are, will the world reject you?” In a world that often feels “othering”—especially these days—the universal themes of community, belonging, and love resonate deeply. The play grapples with the age-old conundrum of clinging to limiting traditions versus thinking and feeling beyond them to discover and embrace one’s true self. A Man of No Importance serves as both a heavy reminder of the work still to be done and a celebration of love, acceptance, and progress in recognizing the humanity in ourselves and others. All are of equal importance.

Kathy St. George (center) with the company

Eddie Shields (center) and the company

photos courtesy of Nile Scott Studios

A Man of No Importance
SpeakEasy Stage Company
Roberts Studio Theatre, Stanford Calderwood Pavilion
Boston Center for the Arts, 527 Tremont Street in Boston
105 minutes, no intermission
Wed & Thurs at 7; Fri at 7:30; Sat at 2 & 7:30; Sun at 3; Thurs at 2 (March 20)
ends on March 22, 2025
for tickets ($25-$85), call 617.933.8600 or visit SpeakEasyStage

for more shows, visit Theatre in Boston

Billy Meleady and Eddie Shields