Customer Reviews

Flora, The Red Menace

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

FLORA THE RED MENACE features an endlessly-delightful score by John Kander and Fred Ebb. It marked the Broadway debut of Liza Minnelli in the title role (following her acclaimed performance in an off-Broadway revival of BEST FOOT FORWARD the previous year), and netted the young belter her first Tony Award. FLORA was a middling failure, running only 87 performances at the Alvin Theatre (by the time Minnelli received her Tony, the show had well and truly vanished into the void). As mentioned above, the score is endlessly delightful, there is not a single clinker here. The beautiful ballad "A Quiet Thing", the manic "Sign Here" and the waltz-like "Dear Love" are only a few of the big stand-outs. There are also hilarious numbers like "The Flame", "Express Yourself" and "Palomino Pal". The supporting cast includes Bob Dishy with Mary Louise Wilson (CABARET) and Cathryn Damon (THE BOYS FROM SYRACUSE) as the two main female comrades, Ada and Charlotte respectively. The cast album for FLORA THE RED MENACE is a must-own for all serious Broadway fans.

Heard this recording originally about 20 years ago and fell in love with it, and ... it happened again !!! What a voice that Liza had at that tender age !! (A few of us may recall her ample warble in The Rink.) I know some of her delivery here is brash and brassy, but I find her enthusiasm, energy, and sense of humor absolutely captivating. As a fan of K&E scores, I find this one as beautiful and fun as any of their others.
Buy this CD and get carried away with its fun. I highly recommend it.

FLORA, THE RED MENACE was not a hit on Broadway, but one would never guess that from listening to the original cast recording. The young composer and lyricist team of John Kander and Fred Ebb created a score that is catchy, melodious, clever, and witty, with wonderful songs like "All I Need Is One Good Break," "Not Every Day of the Week," "Dear Love," "Sing Happy," and (my favorite) "A Quiet Thing." Even the opening sequence ("Waiting all day, waiting in line") is distinguished. The title role gives Liza Minnelli (who was only nineteen years old when FLORA opened) ample opportunity to display her exceptional talent. Although her vibrant voice, which can be both brassy and tender, is often hauntingly reminiscent of Garland's, Liza has a personality all her own: loveably and adorably vulnerable. The supporting cast members are, if not up to Liza's level vocally, all fine; Bob Dishy as Flora's Communist suitor, Harry, is hilarious in "Sign Here," in which he tries to convince Flora to join the Party.
I understand that FLORA was recently revised and revived with success. It would be nice if the show could achieve some popularity, as it would be a shame to let such a terrific score go to waste. In the meantime, the original Broadway cast recording may be the best way to enjoy FLORA, THE RED MENACE.

I remember seeing Liza Minnelli on Ed Sullivan singing "A Quiet Thing" and I went out and bought the lp. I didn't live in NY at the time, so the record was all I had. I loved it.

After reading the other reviews, I want to hear the later version, but I cannot imagine anyone playing or singing Liza's part. Her voice, and her approach to singing, is for me, similar to Ethel Merman's. Yes, she shouts and is abrasive, but for me, the voice is the thing. I loved Merman and I love Minnelli...not matter what.

Bob Dishy was wonderful ("Sign Here"). I just wish I could have seen this on stage. Judy Garland got the chance to see Liza step out of her shadow...they said she cried all during the performance.

If the other reviewer is correct and the 1987 version is better, so be it. Nothing can make me like this score and the performance less.

WHat fun...bright brassy...at times it appears that liza may be auditioning for the road tour of funny girl. For shear energy and and fun show music..don't miss it. The last song has always seemed kind of lame to me...but hey....DO NOT mistake this for the 1987 revival- i love peter frechette...but its just not the same.

If you search on Amazon for all Flora, The Red Menace recordings, then you'll find a 1987 Off-Broadway recording, and there you'll find my review of that version of this score.

I know the 1987 version of this show very well, but had never taken the time to listen to the original 1965 version, until now that is. This show marked a turning point in the career of Liza Minnelli. No longer would she just be Judy Garland's daughter, now she could be her own person.

She stamps her authority throughout this recording, at times almost shouting through numbers, showing little sensitivity for the romance of the piece. Judging from the booklet though, this version of the show was played rather less seriously than the 1987 re-write. Beautiful songs such as Dear Love and A Quiet Thing are unnecessarily beaten into submission by Liza's vocal.

Perhaps it is wrong to compare the two recordings, but on almost every count the 1987 version wins. The one area in which this recording has the edge is the fact that it has an orchestra, and some of these songs, though perfectly acceptable accompanied by just a piano, deserve a good rich string sound.

The songs used in the 1965 version but later cut, show exactly the angle that the original production was aiming for. Palomino Pal is a corny pastiche of a 1930s radio song, whilst Knock Knock has worryingly corny lyrics, and Hello Waves a corny presentation.

This review probably comes across as knocking the recording completely, but that is not what I was aiming for. I do have a deep affection for the 1987 version, but if you are a Liza fan, or a Kander & Ebb fan and want to hear something that you have not heard before, then go ahead and buy this CD. It should bring you enjoyment. If however, you are a Kander & Ebb fan, but not particularly looking for Liza, then go for the calmer, deeper 1987 version.

This early Kander and Ebb gem stars a young, vibrant Liza Minnelli and features a score filled with witty and tuneful songs. A winner!

I somehow missed this recording back during the LP days, and only heard it a few weeks ago for the first time. Liza has never sounded more more sincere. Mary Louise Wilson and Bob Dishy also give standout performances of this early Kander and Ebb score, well recorded and well orchestrated. One of those failures that left a swell recording behind.

If you listen to the 1987 off-Broadway recording or read the script which I believe is still out there, I have a copy of it, you will get quite attatched to it and enjoy it's intimacy and small cast.
But if you listen to the 1965 recording...this once and you read the production synopsis, you get the feeling the book is very weak and the story choppy which is absolutely true.
I think this: The first Kander and Ebb Broadway score is one of their most beatiful and meledious. The late Fred Ebb's lyrics often use witty and comic rhymes, with his touch of sentiment while John Kander's music truely is a standout for a first Broadway show.
If the show had 1-Been written by another author other than George Abbot and 2-Directed by Hal Prince, it would have taken Communists more seriously. George Abbott treats the show as a musical comedy, treating "The Flame", a song about a truely evil communist as a comic number and adding "Palomino Pal", "Hello Waves" and "Knock-Knock" as comic relief. I also feel, from the production synopsis, the story has too many charachters and secondary plots and oldschool ideas. Communist is not musical comedy material.
But back to the score and the recoring: Liza Minnelli's vocals stand out, she brings that quiet-ness to "A Quiet Thing" and that alive-ness to "Sing Happy" (my personal favorite from the show.) Other performers do not vocally stand out, but are just as decent.
I really did enjoy this CD, the score and Liza and the cast's performances are terrific, it would have been more sucessful if it hadn't been a musical comedy.

Gosh,I wish I could have seen this in person.
Liza was only about 17 if I remember.She was mesmerizing when
she was young and a star ready to burst in her own right.

It is unfortunate things have not worked out well for her in
later years.She is so interesting,and what a family to come from.
I actually think she could be as commanding on stage as her mom,
she was that good !

Good luck Liza.