The play begins with the harsh reality of the real world as the main character has his handcuffs removed facing the audience as if we were his wall. Immediately the sight of corporal punishment takes the audience back a bit such that a play with a gentle title would open up with a distressing sight. The lead character Danny played by Michael Shannon goes through his life of success, failure and his fight against alcoholism. Soon after the cuffs are gone, the scenery is changed to a local hospital with vivid characters that remove the sadness associated with hospitals and IVs. The chuckles and outbursts of laughter that came about among the audience made us forget that Danny's mother (Ellen Burstyn) was sitting in a hospital with tubes keeping her alive and well. Though she struggles with both her children, the love that exists is strong enough to keep them all sane.

Hidden beneath the sheets of this play lie secrets that makes one's heart drown with tears. The play iris's in to the true turmoil that these characters have experienced and we begin to grow with them to turn their lives around. Danny, an alcoholic struggles to keep sober and in control, especially around his mother whose neurotic comments and questions are enough to make the most rational person crazy. Danny's yelling is constant throughout the play along with his swearing and tantrums which keeps the play realistic and therefore more entertaining to watch. This play breezes through the struggle that children have once their parents become elderly and the how the mindset shifts from daughter or son to parent. Danny's mother unknowingly found herself in a hospital trying to run away as she thought that it would set Danny and his sister Justine free from the "burden" in which case she means herself.

There comes a point in the play where Danny is yelling at his mother so that she can admit to herself once again that her dad was the one responsible for her not being able to walk. The apparition of her father throughout the play is a constant sight that is disturbing and chilling. The deaf father stands either with his arms crossed or is seen hitting Danny's mother. The abuse that this woman has suffered is shown through her fear at the sight of her father. Luckily, this play has much comedic relief that is needed to hold the tears back. The Little Flower of East Orange is a roller coaster ride that will send your emotions through the roof and through the floor.

Danny is still an alcoholic, Justine is still a fired up redhead and Danny’s mother is still the abused child with permanent scars. As you watch this play you constantly go back and relate it to your life, with the talkative mother, the argumentative sister and a life that sometimes seems to be out of balance. With a cross between life and death it shows how much a person can endure and come out strong. Danny's mother, the little flower, struggles to find her place in life as old age disables her from being the parent in charge. Again and again she is a character that touches our heart with her playful laughter and constant questioning of why god won't take her.