Images: 
Total Rating: 
***
Opened: 
October 2002
Ended: 
March 2003
Country: 
USA
State: 
New York
City: 
New York
Company/Producers: 
Benjamin Mordecai, Michael A. Jenkins, Waxman/Williams Entertainment, Center Theater Group/Mark Taper Forum (Gordon Davidson, art dir; Charles Dillingham, mgng dir). Assoc Prod: Robert G. Bartner, Stephanie McClelland, Judith Resnick, Robert Dragotta, Temple Gill, Marcia Roberts, Kelpie Arts LLC, Dramatic Forces, Rodgers & Hammerstein Organization, Dallas Summer Musicals, Brian Brolly, Alice Chebba Walsh, Ernest De Leon Escaler.
Theater Type: 
Broadway
Theater: 
Virginia Theater
Theater Address: 
245 West 52nd Street (8th Ave)
Phone: 
(212) 239-6200
Running Time: 
2 hrs, 45 min
Genre: 
Musical
Author: 
Book: David Henry Hwang, adapting Joseph Fields' adaptation of C.Y. Lee novel; Music: Richard Rodgers; Lyrics: Oscar Hammerstein II.
Director: 
Robert Longbottom
Review: 

There's only one Flower Drum Song now playing on Broadway. Somehow, the reviewer for the New York Times seems more concerned with a production 40 years ago than the one now on the boards. Maybe he has a time machine, and that's why he persists in advising us to see a show that no longer exists. The new production is a terrific show about a Chinese girl's try at becoming an American, with spectacular staging by Robert Longbottom and flashy, inventive, humorous costuming by Gregg Barnes.

Lea Salonga's clear beautiful voice enchants; Sandra Allen's beauty, sexuality and fine voice is a turn on, Randall Duk Kim as the classical square who is transformed is delightful, and Jodi Long's brassy Rosalind Russell character all provide us with a joyous musical evening. With a stylized T'ai Chi opening, a splashy first act, a too-plotty, predictable second act and a strong finish, the audience walked out of the Virginia Theater smiling and humming "I Enjoy Being a Girl." After all, this is a Rodgers & Hammerstein musical, and they're a song duo for the ages, regardless of plot.

Parental: 
risque humor
Cast: 
Lea Salonga, Jose Llana, Randall Duk Kim, Jodi Long, Sandra Allen, Alvin Ing, Alan Liu, Hoon Lee, Ma Anne Dionisio, Susan Ancheta, Raul Aranas, Rich Ceraulo, Eric Chan, Marcus Choi, Emily Hsu, Telly Leung, J. Elaine Marcos, Daniel May, Marc Oka, Lainie Sakakura, Yuka Takara, Robert Tatad, Kim Varhola, Ericka Yang.
Technical: 
Choreog: Robert Longbottom; Set: Robin Wagner; Costumes: Gregg Barnes; Lighting: Natasha Katz; Sound: Acme Sound Partners; Orchestr: Don Sebesky; Music Coord: Seymour Red Press; Hair: David Brian Brown.
Other Critics: 
PERFORMING ARTS INSIDER Richmond Shepard + / THEATERSCENE.NET Jeannie Lieberman + / TOTALTHEATER Anne Siegel -
Critic: 
Richmond Shepard
Date Reviewed: 
October 2002