Tweet
THEATER: FLORA, THE RED MENACE
By Rick Reed
Windy City Times, IL
June 28 2006
Music and Lyrics: John Kander, Fred Ebb;
book: David Thompson
At: Theo Ubique at No Exit Cafe, 6970 N. Glenwood
Phone: 773-743-3355; $20-$22
Runs through: July 30
While this early, career-launching effort is not the first play that
comes to mind when one thinks of the musical legacy of Kander and Ebb
( Cabaret, Chicago, Kiss of the Spider Woman, etc. ) , Flora, the Red
Menace does have the prescient feel of greatness...and the richness
of history: the 1965 Broadway production of Flora boasted the debut
performance of Liza Minnelli in the lead ( and she won the Tony that
year ) .
The story of Flora, the Red Menace ( nice, plucky Hungarian immigrant
gets mixed up with the Communist party through her association with
a charming man in depression-era New York and finds she has to make a
choice between love, party alliance and her own independence ) is not
the kind of thing big, show-stopping musicals are made of-and that's
a good thing. The tiny storefront No Exit Cafe is an ideal venue for
this story of a group of down-on-their-luck artists and revolutionaries
struggling for meaning and recognition during hard times.
Under Fred Anzevino and Beverle Bloch's deft direction, Flora, the
Red Menace comes to rousing, romantic and engaging life, transporting
audience members into a world that's in the past, but a world we
can all identify with. Who hasn't been young and idealistic, hungry
to fulfill a dream or two? Anzevino and Block are blessed with a
talented young ensemble to flesh out the story and characters one
can easily love. Jeremy Trager shines here. Trager is a veteran of
several Theo Ubique productions and while I've found his work a tad
hammy in the past, he really delivers here. He makes his stammering
Armenian immigrant, Harry Toukarian, a memorable and believable young
man; we see his conviction, his fervor and, most importantly, his
hunger for love and acceptance. It's a standout performance, and it's
great to see this kind of growth in a performer. As Flora, newcomer
Elizabeth Lesinski sparkles; brassy and bigger than life, this Flora
charms and captivates, and Lesinski makes it easy to imagine a life
filled with love and success for this character. Danielle Brothers,
as the staid Communist revolutionary Charlotte, steals the show in
whatever scene she's in, with perfect comic timing and verve.
It doesn't seem possible that there should be so much talent and
charm in a little storefront production such as this one. But don't
question it. There it is. Get yourself a ticket. You won't be sorry.
By Rick Reed
Windy City Times, IL
June 28 2006
Music and Lyrics: John Kander, Fred Ebb;
book: David Thompson
At: Theo Ubique at No Exit Cafe, 6970 N. Glenwood
Phone: 773-743-3355; $20-$22
Runs through: July 30
While this early, career-launching effort is not the first play that
comes to mind when one thinks of the musical legacy of Kander and Ebb
( Cabaret, Chicago, Kiss of the Spider Woman, etc. ) , Flora, the Red
Menace does have the prescient feel of greatness...and the richness
of history: the 1965 Broadway production of Flora boasted the debut
performance of Liza Minnelli in the lead ( and she won the Tony that
year ) .
The story of Flora, the Red Menace ( nice, plucky Hungarian immigrant
gets mixed up with the Communist party through her association with
a charming man in depression-era New York and finds she has to make a
choice between love, party alliance and her own independence ) is not
the kind of thing big, show-stopping musicals are made of-and that's
a good thing. The tiny storefront No Exit Cafe is an ideal venue for
this story of a group of down-on-their-luck artists and revolutionaries
struggling for meaning and recognition during hard times.
Under Fred Anzevino and Beverle Bloch's deft direction, Flora, the
Red Menace comes to rousing, romantic and engaging life, transporting
audience members into a world that's in the past, but a world we
can all identify with. Who hasn't been young and idealistic, hungry
to fulfill a dream or two? Anzevino and Block are blessed with a
talented young ensemble to flesh out the story and characters one
can easily love. Jeremy Trager shines here. Trager is a veteran of
several Theo Ubique productions and while I've found his work a tad
hammy in the past, he really delivers here. He makes his stammering
Armenian immigrant, Harry Toukarian, a memorable and believable young
man; we see his conviction, his fervor and, most importantly, his
hunger for love and acceptance. It's a standout performance, and it's
great to see this kind of growth in a performer. As Flora, newcomer
Elizabeth Lesinski sparkles; brassy and bigger than life, this Flora
charms and captivates, and Lesinski makes it easy to imagine a life
filled with love and success for this character. Danielle Brothers,
as the staid Communist revolutionary Charlotte, steals the show in
whatever scene she's in, with perfect comic timing and verve.
It doesn't seem possible that there should be so much talent and
charm in a little storefront production such as this one. But don't
question it. There it is. Get yourself a ticket. You won't be sorry.