What's it About?Flaming Idiots is a full-length comedy by Tom Rooney -- a play about a pair of budding restaurateurs who hope to pique public interest in their establishment by staging a murder during the dinner hour. Of course, complications ensue.
Flaming Idiots tells the story of two women with a dream, and their efforts to become successful in spite of themselves. Carla and Phyllis decide that the ladder to success at the post office is missing a few rungs. They know that big money is waiting for people with entrepreneurial spirit and sound business judgement. They have lots of the spirit but little of the judgement, and their new gourmet health food restaurant flounders. Zippy's, a popular crosstown spot, has been crowded ever since Cy Manamalancia, a notorious mobster, was shot there over twenty years ago. What if someone could get murdered in their restaurant? Flaming Idiots was originally presented in 1992 Off-Off Broadway at the TADA! Theatre in New York City. It was the co-winner of the 1992 New American Comedy Festival. Playwright Tom RooneyTom Rooney is a writer, playwright, screenwriter, director and actor. His awards include The James D. Phelan Award for Literature, The New American Comedy Festival award for Best Play, Best Original Screenplay, Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival and the Audience Award from the Newport Beach International Film Festival. His plays have been produced throughout the United States and Canada as well as in Tokyo, Paris, and Copenhagen. As an actor Tom has appeared in film, television, and on stage.
What People Say"The two 'idiots' are extremely endearing fellows ... In a series of very unlikely events they manage to astound with profound stupidity and yet they somehow prevail against all odds. So, of course, the script is hysterical." — NewsOK
"Rooney's text stays true to farcical form, rife with quick one-liners and even quicker puns. It's as much fun to hear as it is for the actors to say, and the actors are having a blast." — The Austin Chronicle "Flaming Idiots, is a ... modern parody, yet playwright Tom Rooney has crammed into it all of the classical elements: silly puns, sexual double-entendre, physical humor, absurd plot elements, a tightening skein of complications and action –the only goal of which is to make people laugh, and laugh hard." — Honolulu Weekly |
Director's Notes
Flaming Idiots… Just by it’s name you know it has to be funny. And funny it is! A few years ago the SOAP board of directors gave out a few plays to read. After only a couple pages, I was chuckling. A few more pages and I snorted. As I read it through I could picture the crazy fast paced farce that it is. And I knew it would be a hit. Not everyone wanted to do it… Farces are hard to produce, they take explicit timing and delivery, good actors and a set with doors… a lot of doors… What director is crazy enough to want to try this? Well… this one. And I was lucky enough to get some amazing talented actors to bring to life, not to mention creative and artistic set designer and builders, and our usual talented costumer. I was also lucky to get very artistic props mistresses and an almost as crazy as me stage manager.
We all need an escape from reality (especially now), and this delivers it in spades. Come immerse yourself in the unrealistic predicaments Carla and Phyllis put themselves in. From an impaired chef and money laundering busboy to a bumbling cop and antique hit-man, this play will have you laughing out loud at their antics! WARNING! Ladies you may have to wear two Poise for this. Cast & CrewCAST:
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