Flora, The Red Menace
by Fred Ebb, John Kander, George Abbott, David Thompson

Name: Flora, The Red Menace
Brand: Fred Ebb
SKU: 9780573681837
Rating: 3.43 (8 reviews)

Flora, The Red Menace Book Cover — Flora, The Red Menace Cover

Highlights

Medium Cast

Female

Male

1930sExpandable CastingBare Stage/Simple SetAmerican

What readers are saying

Readers have mixed feelings about the play. Some appreciate its potential and unique themes, while others find it lacking cohesion and focus.

Unique themesPotential for greatnessLacks cohesionFeels like a mess

Synopsis

Category: Musical Characters: 5 males 4 females playing a variety of roles Musical cultists will remember this show as the first Broadway collaboration of Kander and Ebb as well as the Tony Award-winning debut of Liza Minnelli as Flora Mezaros.

With a new updated book that presents a romance of charming simplicity set amidst the American communist agitation during the Depression of the 1930's.

Is Flora a "red menace" or just that good old Broadway stand by: a Girl in Love?

Song

ThemesMusicals

Press Reviews

"The score is consistently winning and often quite funny."
— WQXR Radio

"Covers familiar territory with a refreshing lightness of touch."
— New York Magazine

Characters

Character	Gender	Age	Description
Harry Toukarian A shy, intense, oddly handsome artist. He stammers, especially when he is nervous. He has a romantic vision of how to make society perfect.	male	—	A shy, intense, oddly handsome artist. He stammers, especially when he is nervous. He has a romantic vision of how to make society perfect.
Charlotte A bit of a misfit, a party zealot, she is determined to spread Communism singlehandedly. She is dry, droll -- the quintessential comic villian.	female	—	A bit of a misfit, a party zealot, she is determined to spread Communism singlehandedly. She is dry, droll -- the quintessential comic villian.
Willy Very boyish, spirited. A songwriter who plays the clarinet, Willy, in a sense, serves as the narrator of the play.	—	—	Very boyish, spirited. A songwriter who plays the clarinet, Willy, in a sense, serves as the narrator of the play.
Elsa Extremely practical, pulled together, she has aspirations to be a fashion designer and has yet to get up the nerve to get her sketches around town.	female	—	Extremely practical, pulled together, she has aspirations to be a fashion designer and has yet to get up the nerve to get her sketches around town.
Mr. Weiss A former Communist who has lost his jewelry shop to the Depression, he is kindly, knowing.	male	—	A former Communist who has lost his jewelry shop to the Depression, he is kindly, knowing.
Maggie Very innocent. Honest. Maggie came to New York from Oklahoma following a dust storm. She is now trying to get a break with her dance partner, Kenny.	female	—	Very innocent. Honest. Maggie came to New York from Oklahoma following a dust storm. She is now trying to get a break with her dance partner, Kenny.
Kenny Moving with Ray Bolger-like limberness and comedy, he is very serious about his dancing and determined to get ahead.	male	—	Moving with Ray Bolger-like limberness and comedy, he is very serious about his dancing and determined to get ahead.
Mr. Stanley Arrow Shirt Collar-perfect. The perfect department store executive. Easily disliked.	—	—	Arrow Shirt Collar-perfect. The perfect department store executive. Easily disliked.
Flora Meszaros A young fashion illustrator, full of hope, optimism, and a desire to take over the world. She is absolutely guileless, willing to take on any challenge, without a trace of brassiness.	female	—	A young fashion illustrator, full of hope, optimism, and a desire to take over the world. She is absolutely guileless, willing to take on any challenge, without a trace of brassiness.