Composer

:

John Kander

Genre

:

Musical Theatre

Style

:

Musical Theater

Compose Date

:

1965

Flora the Red Menace is a musical with music by John Kander and lyrics by Fred Ebb. The plot revolves around Flora Meszaros, a young artist who joins the Communist Party during the Great Depression in the United States. The musical is set in 1935 and follows Flora's journey as she navigates her political beliefs, her relationships, and her career as an artist. The musical was composed in 1965 and premiered on Broadway in 1965. It was directed by George Abbott and choreographed by Lee Theodore. The original cast included Liza Minnelli as Flora and Bob Dishy as Harry Toukarian, Flora's love interest. The musical is divided into two acts and features several musical numbers, including "A Quiet Thing," "Sing Happy," and "The Flame." The music is characterized by its jazzy and upbeat style, with elements of swing and big band music. One of the key themes of the musical is the struggle between individualism and collectivism. Flora is torn between her desire to pursue her own artistic vision and her commitment to the Communist Party's ideals of collective action and social justice. This tension is reflected in the musical's lyrics, which often contrast Flora's personal desires with her political beliefs. Another important theme is the role of art in society. Flora sees her art as a means of expressing her political beliefs and promoting social change. However, she also struggles with the commercialization of art and the pressure to conform to popular tastes. Despite its initial critical success, Flora the Red Menace was not a commercial hit and closed after only 87 performances. However, it is notable for launching the career of Liza Minnelli, who won a Tony Award for her performance as Flora. The musical also marked the beginning of Kander and Ebb's long and successful collaboration, which would produce such hits as Cabaret and Chicago.

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