25 Mar 2009 Are you tone-deaf? Do your loved ones cringe when you sing in the shower? Well, you’ve got nothing on Florence Foster Jenkins, who made a career out of singing out of tune – badly out of tune.

This ‘diva of din’ is the subject of the hilarious play Glorious, which is set to have audiences convulsing with laughter at Sandton’s Old Mutual Theatre on the Square during a five-week season from 21 April 2009.

Starring beloved South African comedy actress Annabel Linder as the irrepressible Jenkins, Glorious will take audiences back to the early years of the 20th century to meet an American singer who couldn’t sing for toffee – and seemed completely oblivious to the fact.

A dumpy coloratura soprano, Jenkins became a star by hitting all the wrong notes with great aplomb, yet her enthusiasm was contagious and her delighted audiences would often clamour for more. How could a woman with so little talent be so full of joy?

Peter Quilter’s West End hit immortalising Jenkins’ life also features Johan Baird as her accompanist, who goes by the unlikely name of Cosme McMoon. The play is told through the eyes of McMoon, a talented young pianist who, for some mysterious reason, remained loyal to an artiste whose appalling caterwauling routinely caused audiences to stuff handkerchiefs into their mouths to stifle their laughter.

Baird’s gender-bending on-stage antics were the cause of much hilarity in Around the World in 80 Days, and he will no doubt be similarly entertaining in Glorious. The stellar cast is completed by the always-funny Louise Saint-Claire, who will sink her teeth into a delicious set of double roles.

Astute comedy markswoman Charmaine Weir-Smith, who most recently directed Michael Richard in the side-splitting My Mother’s Italian, My Father’s Jewish and I’m in Therapy, will again take the reins in Glorious.

Produced by Afro Asia Events, Glorious promises to be an absolute scream. The incomparable Linder may deliberately sing off-key as the cheerfully inept Florence Foster Jenkins, but the show is destined to hit all the right notes with audiences.

If you think some of those pitch-imperfect Idols hopefuls sound like squawking chickens ready for the guillotine, they’ve got nothing on this discordant dame!

Performances are from Tuesdays to Fridays at 8.15pm, on Saturdays at 6pm and 9pm, and on Sundays at 3pm. Tickets cost R150 (half price on Tuesdays) and R80 for senior citizens. Booking is at StrictlyTickets.com or at the Theatre 011 883 8606.  For more details please visit www.glorioustheplay.co.za