A Man Of No Importance drops us into the world of theatre-loving Alfie Byrne, a bus conductor in 1964 Dublin, Ireland, whose love of Oscar Wilde's plays will have consequences for everyone on his route. His plan to mount Wilde's racy play Salome at his church puts Byrne and his collaborators on a collision course with harsh reality.
In a conversation with director Kathy Mulay and actors Dirk Lumbard (Byrne) and Michael Ehlers (Carney), Mulay expresses her fondness for shows that give people something to think about long after they've left the theater. They discuss the creators of A Man Of No Importance: playwright Terrence McNally and songwriting team Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens, whose work together also produced the hit show Ragtime.
According to the actors, A Man Of No Importance treats its characters with humor and affection. Mulay says it's structured as a play-within-a-play, akin to the mockumentary comedy film Waiting For Guffman. She also points to the Irish-themed music and songs as an element that sets this show apart.
Farmers Alley Theatre will present A Man Of No Importance in the Little Theatre on Oakland Drive, June 10 - 19.
