Larry Littany Litt
Omnipotence
for my soul: "Flo" by Toby Armour What if you had access to all the power in the world? What would you do? Make your self rich? Beautiful? Famous? That’s what happens to Flo (Jenny Taher) when her friend Max (John Cencio Burgos) gives her the power to do and be whatever she wants.
Why would Max do such a thing? Obviously because he wants to collect her soul. Which oddly Flo doesn’t think she has. She claims to be a Jewish atheist. A contradiction, yes. But what does one expect from an Upper West Side privileged senior citizen princess? Flo is bored with her dotage and really dislikes everything in her very predictable world. After very little thought Flo decides to take Max up on his offer. She thinks, What the Hell? Omnipotence for my soul. If I actually have one. Sounds like a deal. From Hell. First of all Max turns her into a beautiful, desirable young woman again (Mikayla Petrilla). Then he gets her universal accolades from the Nobel Prize committee. In one of the plays most hilarious scenes director Joan Kane goes through a dress search for the awards ceremony. What to wear? Flo is still no different than her UWS self.
In a moment of self discovery Flo and Max circle the globe seeking human pain and conflicts to heal. But alas humanity is too strong a flow of history. Violence and greed conquer peace and equality. So Flo feels all hope is lost. Until she learns the secret to her success. "Flo" is a fun parody. I can see it on one of TNC’s summer street theater flatbed truck tours. Flo’s simple but too common life of privilege is a great character study. Her devilish friend Max (John Cencio Burgos) is just enough of a demon to know when he’s beaten. Max can sing so he saves the day. In fact singing is one of the uplifitng themes for this show. Sing for your happiness, it doesn’t matter how old or poor you are. There’s provocative original tango music by Peter Dizzoza, romantically choreographed by Tatyana Kot.
The cast gives likable performances. Especially J.C. Augustin’s US PresIdent. Juli Harkins, the spirit of compassion, raises her gorgeous voice to warm the hearts of the audience. Even though this is a parody, Joan Kane has taken it a step higher into Lower East Side Love is all you need fabulism. Go see it. Let playwright Toby Armour and her fantasies put a smile on your face in these rough times. |
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