About Flora the Red Menace

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Flora the Red Menace logo - by Lauren Elise ABOUT FLORA THE RED MENACE
Music by John Kander
Lyrics by Fred Ebb

Book by David Thompson

Based on the novel 'Love is Just Around the Corner'

by Lester Atwell

July 18 - 21 - 26th 2007
Preview: July 17
8:00pm
Theatreworks
14 Acland Street St. Kilda
A: $25 C: $22

"Step right up and meet the kid herself..."

FLORA THE RED MENACE, one of the most original and captivating musicals to come out of Broadway, first premiered in 1965 starring a young Liza Minnelli in the title role. This landmark musical was the first collaboration between the legendary song-writing duo of John Kander and Fred Ebb, who went on to write a highly successful catalogue of works that include Chicago, Cabaret, and the iconic theme to New York, New York.

Set in America during the Great Depression, FLORA THE RED MENACE tells of a young woman determined to succeed in New York as a fashion illustrator. To make ends meet Flora Meszaros runs an artists co-operative in a disused hotel ballroom, but gets her big break when she is hired by the head of a large department store (at the generous salary of 30-dollars a week!).

While surviving the notorious bread lines that plagued the streets of New York through the early 1920's, Flora falls head over heels in love with Harry Toukarian, a radical young artist and member of the Communist party. Harry shares Flora's passion for a better future, and encourages her to convert to Communism - much to the concern of Flora's friends and the radical party secretary Charlotte, who has her own designs on Harry.

Dan

As the demands of the red menace start to compromise her job, Flora finds herself torn between the vastly different ideals of her lover and her employer. In the end, in order to truly make a difference, she is required to sacrifice one or the other.

FLORA THE RED MENACE features a rollicking score of toe-tapping and hummable melodies, set to the ingenious lyrics that are synonymous with Kander & Ebb musicals. Notable highlights include the Liza Minnelli standard Sing Happy and the song that Minnelli herself recently votedas the most romantic Broadway love song ever, A Quiet Thing.

FLORA THE RED MENACE almost faded into obscurity before its off-Broadway revival in 1986, which featured a much tighter book and a re-worked score by Kander & Ebb. Through the Magnormos Prompt Musicals program, Australian audiences finally have the opportunity to view the baby picture of one of the most successful musical theatre collaborations in history, following in the footsteps of previous Magnormos hits SATURDAY NIGHT, ARCHY & MEHITABEL and A BUNCH OF RATBAGS.

Director: Aaron Joyner
Music Director: Andrew Leach
Choreographer: Tamara Finch

Featuring:

Elenor Adams
as Maggie

Don Bridges
as Mr. Weiss

Sean Gunn
as Mr Stanley

Jessica Enes
as Flora Meszaros

Dan Humphris
as Harry Toukarian

Angela Lumicisi
as Charlotte

Nicolette Minster
as Elsa

Alister Smith
as Kenny

Paul Watson
as Willy

BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT WITH DOMINIE PTY LTD.

Purchase your Cast Recording through Middle8 Music

Flora The Red Menace
1965 Original Broadway Cast

Flora The Red Menace
Original 1987 Off-Broadway Cast

The Magnormos 2007 Prompt Musicals season is supported by:

Image credits
Flora the Red Menace Logo: Artwork Lauren Elise
Flora promotional image (the big apple): Artwork Aaron Joyner
Prompt Musicals Logo: Artwork Lauren Elise
Photographs: Jessica Enes and Dan Humphris (Photography Sebastien Arnold)