Where Has Tommy Flowers Gone
About the show
Terrence McNally's late 1960s-set drama portrays the life and attitude of one Tommy Flowers—irrepressible cut-up, determined freeloader, and disenchanted rebel against society.
... Read moreIn the course of his adventures, Tommy befriends a destitute old actor, acquires an oversized sheep dog (his best friend), and finds love with a beautiful music student (whom he meets in the ladies' room at Bloomingdale's). But as Tommy moves from scene to scene, his bright red shopping bag at the ready for pilfering and his agile wit poised to hoodwink everyone in sight, we also glimpse the root causes of his alienation—his ailing, complaining mother back home, an unhappily married brother, a former girlfriend who has settled for a suffocating domesticity, and a venturing forth that has brought more rejection than acceptance. In the end, betrayed yet again, but still buoyantly defiant, Tommy devises his final rip-off—a bomb to blow him, and at least some small portion of a world he cannot accept, into oblivion.
“A cheeky little time capsule from 1971 provides glimpses of the loose, inventive spirit of the youthful Terrence McNally...The play is, in some ways, a long monologue interspersed with dramatic scenes. There are also a few fantasy sequences...Through all of this, Gow is great fun to watch. It’s a flashy and challenging role, and the actor explores effectively all the nooks and crannies of Tommy’s jumbled psyche.” Full Review
"There are some dated elements to McNally’s script, but much of it remains surprisingly relevant in part because the playwright did not construct a realistic work...It is in ambiguity that the plays finds its resonance, particularly a year into the Trump Era...The ensemble moves seamlessly from the ridiculous to the realistic...Throughout, Gow finds the humanity that underscores all the character’s actions, and thus finds the tragic in the play’s final moments." Full Review
"Especially timely now, in our present climate of disunity and unrest...Directed by Braza with the requisite combination of outrageous humor, biting observation, and harrowing poignancy...Despite the show’s occasionally stilted delivery and slow pacing, Starting 5’s production presents a welcome opportunity to see one of McNally’s seminal works...Recognizes its relevance for a new audience, addressing many of the important historic issues that have resurfaced in our own time." Full Review
"The auspicious opening immediately pins Tommy Flowers onto a historical timeline, back in the pre-electronic era. It’s wonderfully nostalgic...A series of skits and vignettes, under the guidance of Braza, take us through Tommy’s Big Apple roller coaster of highs and lows...Will he ultimately follow the steps of the dangerous manual? It is here when McNally’s decades old play suddenly leaps from the amusing past into an unsettling present." Full Review
"This is a painfully dated, aimlessly episodic and interminable affair best left to dramatic literature scholars and McNally completists to read...Mr. Gow perhaps saw this showy role as a vehicle for him to shine in and he does up to a point. Gow is an appealing, very talented young man who gives an admirable performance in such problematic material...Ms. Braza has done her best to make something so unwieldy stageworthy." Full Review
“The play is both dated and flawed. The production is enigmatic. For example, Tommy was given an honorable discharge from the military, but where and when he served, remain mysteries...Gaps like these make ‘Tommy Flowers’ unsatisfying, and unfortunately, Braza's staging isn't really able to fill them in. Although the fast-paced repartee between characters is laced with humor and pithy one-liners, by the end of the night I had no idea where Tommy Flowers had gone. Worse, I didn’t care." Full Review
See it if You would like to experience the counterculture of the 1960's. Terrence McNally masterfully resurrects it.
Don't see it if If you hate the the Flower Child life style.
See it if U want to catch classic McNally done v nicely. The lead carried show w/so much charm & energy, u can't help but cheer him on-no matter what!
Don't see it if Play is dated (times & thinking seem far ago), & the lead's life principles may irk some. However, this is a well done small scale revival ~
See it if I like a good show.
Don't see it if n/a
See it if You want see a great ensemble work together on a work that is surprisingly relevant to the present moment.
Don't see it if The play is very much of 1971 and trades in certain counter-culture assumptions. If that era doesn’t appeal to you, then this won’t grab you
See it if You enjoy a good story.Very cosmetic .
Don't see it if N/A
See it if ....you enjoy seeing excellent acting young by aspiring actors exhibiting great talent.
Don't see it if ... you don't enjoy shows that go on for 2-1/2 hours. Two hours would have been fine.
See it if you enjoy good acting and intelligent writing.
Don't see it if You prefer musicals.
See it if your ears are open to yesterday's youthful rebellion echoing crazily into the present (with a killer James Dean impression).
Don't see it if you get scared when the actors talk to the audience (and some audience members unexpectedly talk back).
See it if desire to see David Gow b4 he's famous, want entertaining enuf early McNally, intimate staging, committed cast, arc of tragic dimension r 4u
Don't see it if period pieces, sociopathic behavior, being up close & personal, Terrence McNally, don't appeal to you
See it if You like Terrence McNally’s writing. This is a decent production. It’s especially interesting seeing it through today’s political lens.
Don't see it if You’re looking for a show with a lot of action or even plot. This just sort of meanders along without ever making a clear point.
See it if See it if you are a fan of Terrance McNally or David Gow. Excellent performance by Gow.
Don't see it if you don't want to sit through a 2.5 hour slow moving play.
See it if you want to see an early Terrence McNally play. Very good acting by David Gow (who also produced), Emma Geer & Daniel O'Shea.
Don't see it if you expect vintage McNally. Some good writing in early scenes but goes on too long and is quite dated. Disappointing.
See it if You have an interest in Terence McNally and want to experience one of his earliest works.
Don't see it if You're not partial to an evening of small vignettes.
See it if You have to see that early McNally piece you missed years ago
Don't see it if You’re looking for something interesting to see
See it if If you are a big Terrence McNally fan and want to check off another one of his shows.
Don't see it if If you don’t enjoy slow moving, dated and poorly directed shows. The cast seemed to be reciting dialogue but not really becoming the parts.
See it if The cast is quite good despite this play from yesteryear that overstays its welcome. A charming lost boy searching for a new life...I guess
Don't see it if Where Has Tommy Flowers Gone? After 2 1/2 hours, who cares! This should be a one-act play where the talented David Gow plays all the parts.
See it if You might enjoy a retro type comedy. Although, honestly, I really couldn't figure this show out. A real snoozer.
Don't see it if You have something better to do. Script needs work. Much too long at 2 plus hours. Actors did their best though.
See it if Really, you have nothing else to do.
Don't see it if You don't want to waste your time. The acting was actually very good, the play is terrible.
See it if You are a huge fan of Terrence McNally or you want to support young talented actors despite the material being dated, boring, plotless
Don't see it if You are looking for an entertaining play with a plot and interesting characters. I Really can’t recommend this to anyone.
See it if You are into spending a lovely eveni g bei g entertained. Quaint theater! Have told friends to go see it!
Don't see it if You should see it! Do not miss!
Cast & Creatives (12)
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