‘Souvenir’ – the story of Florence Foster Jenkins, the soprano who dared to dream

After a terrific month-long season at the Chapel off Chapel in Melbourne, CDP Theatre Productions brings Souvenir: A fantasia on the life of Florence Foster Jenkins to the Zenith Theatre.

Souvenir is the humorous true story of Florence Foster Jenkins, a wealthy New York society eccentric who suffered under the illusion that she was a great coloratura soprano, but was actually barely capable of sustaining a note! In 1944, Foster Jenkins stepped onto the world’s leading concert platform, Carnegie Hall, for her legendary sold-out show. The world has not stopped talking or indeed being entertained, about that night. It doesn’t matter that she couldn’t sing – what matters is that she dared to dream.

Souvenir imagines events surrounding the poignant and funny story of the musical career of Florence Foster Jenkins, a wealthy New York society eccentric of the 30’s & 40’s who suffered under the illusion that she was a great coloratura soprano – when in fact the opposite was true.

Nevertheless, her annual charity recitals at the Ritz-Carlton and performances at other venues brought her cult status, especially as news of her  singing ability – or lack thereof – spread, culminating in her legendary sold out concert at Carnegie Hall.

Written by Stephen Temperley, Souvenir features Australian singer and actress Helen Noonan as Florence, and pianist and musical director Stephen McIntyre as Florence’s long suffering accompanist, Cosme McMoon.

Helen Noonan has performed extensively in opera and musical theatre, including as the ghost of opera in Recital, which she has performed in Bogota, London, Hong Kong, Edinburgh, and Australia. Helen has also acted as Violetta in La Traviata and Carlotta in Phantom of the Opera, a role she has performed more than 1400 times.

Hilarious, surprising and deeply moving, Souvenir is a remarkable journey through an extraordinary life.

Tickets: Adult $47.50, Concession $44.50, Group 8+ $44.50

Booking fees of between $3 and $5 may apply; click here to book

For more information and bookings: www.zeniththeatre.com.au or call (02) 9777 7555