Flora the Red Menace

Infobox Musical
name= Flora the Red Menace
subtitle=


caption= Cover of Original Cast Recording
music= John Kander
lyrics= Fred Ebb
book= originally adapted by George Abbott and Robert Russell
revised by David Thompson
basis= "Love is Just Around the Corner", by Lester Atwell
productions= 1965 Broadway
1987 Off-Broadway
awards=

"Flora the Red Menace" is a musical with a book by David Thompson, music by John Kander, and lyrics by Fred Ebb. The musical starred Liza Minnelli in the title role in her Broadway debut, for which she won a Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical. This was the first collaboration between Kander and Ebb, who later wrote Broadway and Hollywood hits such as "Cabaret" and "Chicago".

Although not full of well-known or show-stopping numbers, the score does present a valuable insight into the later work of Kander and Ebb. Like "Cabaret" and "Chicago", it features a headstrong heroine with passion and idealism, and has a strong dose of political content.

Productions

"Flora the Red Menace" opened on Broadway at the Alvin Theatre on May 11, 1965 and closed on July 24, 1965, after 87 performances. Minnelli won the Tony Award, the youngest person to do so at age 19, until Frankie Michaels won in 1966 at age 11.

"Flora" was not written for Minnelli as is sometimes said; Robert Russell was rumored to have written the show as a vehicle for Barbra Streisand. George Abbott became involved and thought it would be a vehicle for Eydie Gormé. Receiving promising out-of-town reviews in New Haven and Boston, the show was recorded two days before its Broadway opening. However, the New York critics were not enthusiastic, and when it closed it had lost almost all of its $400,000 investment. ["Not Since Carrie: Forty Years of Broadway Musical Flops", Ken Mandelbaum, p. 233, 1991, St. Martin's Press, ISBN 0312064284]

The "New York Times" reviewer wrote: "The voice [of Minelli] is not yet distinctive...She is going to be a popular singer, all right. It [Flora the Red Menace] has the appearance of being pasted together with bits and pieces. A promising idea has not been enlivened by a creative spark." ["New York Times", Howard Taubman, May 12, 1965, p.41]

The show was revived in New York at the off-Broadway Vineyard Theatre in December 1987 with a new book by David Thompson. Directed by Scott Ellis with choreography by Susan Stroman, Flora was played by Veanne Cox with Peter Frechette as Harry. ["New York Times", Walter Goodman, December 7, 1987]

The most recent professional production in the UK was at Dundee Repertory Theatre, Scotland, autumn 2003. [ [http://www.dundeereptheatre.co.uk/ww_flora.htm Dundee Rep Theatre ] ]

The Reprise! Broadway's Best production at the Freud Theatre (Los Angeles, California) ran from May 6, 2008 through May 18. The role of Flora was played by Eden Espinosa. [Gans, Andrew. [http://www.playbill.com/news/article/115431.html "Espinosa and Felciano to Star in Reprise! Flora, the Red Menace",] playbill.com, February 27, 2008]

Plot synopsis

The story is told as though in a presentation by the Federal Theatre Project, part of the WPA established by President Roosevelt (voiced by Art Carney). A company of actors play all the roles, with obvious props and scenery, not trying to hide the 'amateur' look and feel of the show. Headstrong wannabe fashion designer Flora Mezaros (Liza Minnelli), is a member of an artists' co-operative of bohemian types -dancers, musicians, designers - struggling to find work during the Great Depression. Hoping to find a job which pays at least $15 a week, she is hired by the head of a large department store at $30.

She falls in love with Harry Toukarian (Bob Dishy), another struggling designer, who attempts to convert Flora to his Communist ideals. Even though it compromises her job in an organisation which does not recognise the new unions she seeks to hold down both job and relationship. Complicating matters is a predatory Communist matriarch, Comrade Charlotte, (Cathryn Damon) who wants Harry for herself, a secretary with designs on her boss, and Kenny and Maggie, a jazz dancing duo with their sights on greater things.

In the end, however, Flora finds herself torn between the vastly different ideals, and has to sacrifice one or the other for true happiness.

ongs

;Act I
*Prologue -- Ensemble
*Unafraid -- Flora, Students and Ensemble
*All I Need Is One Good Break -- Flora, Harry Toukarian and Artists
*Not Every Day of the Week -- Flora and Harry Toukarian
*All I Need Is One Good Break (Reprise) -- Flora, Elsa and The Lady
*Sign Here -- Harry Toukarian
*The Flame -- Comrade Ada, Harry Toukarian and Comrades
*Palomino Pal -- The Lady and Cowboy
*A Quiet Thing -- Flora
*Hello, Waves -- Harry Toukarian and Flora
*Dear Love -- Flora and Ensemble;Act II
*Express Yourself -- Comrade Charlotte and Harry Toukarian
*Knock, Knock -- Comrade Ada and Cowboy
*Comrade Charlotte's Ballet (The Tree of Life) -- Comrade Charlotte, *Comrade Ada, Harry Toukarian and Ensemble
*Sing Happy -- Flora
*You Are You -- Mr. Weiss, Elsa, Flora, Mr. Stanley, Lulu, Katie and Joe
*Finale -- Entire Company

Recording

The Original Broadway cast recording was released by RCA Victor Broadway in May 1965; a CD was released March 10, 1992. [ [http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000003F51 Amazon.com: Flora The Red Menace: The Original Broadway Cast Recording (1965): Music: John Kander,Fred Ebb ] ]

References

External links

*
* [http://nodanw.com/shows_f/floratheredmenace.htm Synopsis from noda]
* [http://www.talkinbroadway.com/regional/sanfran/s854.html Talkin Broadway review of regional San Francisco production]
* [http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,901716,00.html Time Magazine review, May. 21, 1965]