BY KAY SCHROVEN
This odd and delightful play began in 1960 as a low- budget movie, created by B-movie master Roger Corman, who recently passed away. The screenplay was written by Charles Griffith, Alan Menkin composed the music and Howard Ashmen the lyrics. The play has enjoyed multiple iterations on stage and in film, including rewrites of the ending. It enjoyed a huge success off Broadway and has become a staple for high school and regional theater. It may best be described as a campy horror-comedy-musical. It takes place in a downtrodden florist shop on “Skid Row.” With a bloodthirsty talking plant as the main character (a spectacular creation by puppeteer Yvonne Freese) a sadistic motorcycle-riding dentist, three feisty rock ‘n roll street urchins, the loyal and reliable if bumbling Seymour, the lovable but lost Audrey and curmudgeonly florist Mr. Mushnik—where could this story possibly take us?
There are no weak links in this production. The cast of 19 and creative team of 18 maintain the gold standard that the Guthrie continues to bring to its audiences year after year. This production soars under the direction and choreography of Marcia Milgrom Dodge, beginning with Lex Liang’s set/scene design, which is a star itself. The set is dark, with red brick, worn wood and Muntin bars protecting the doors and windows. Mushnik’s Florist sits at street level below the Zig- Zag record shop, next to a thrift store. Through the dim, second-story windows we see the silhouette of the productions’ talented lead musicians Denise Prosek and Jason Hansen. Scattered at ground level are garbage cans, discarded crates, a bench and the denizens of Skid Row shuffling about.
Nerdy, likeable Seymour Krelborn, played with aplomb by Will Roland, works for Mr. Mushnik (Robert Dorfman) as does Audrey—and things aren’t going well. In fact, the flower shop may close. Seymour saves the day by nursing some seeds he picked into an exotic plant. He places his cultivated plant in the shop window which brings in high roller customers in furs and flashy sunglasses. Mushnik places his future on the plant and implores Seymour to nurse it. Under his tender care the plant grows. And GROWS. It talks too, roaring “Feed me!” in T. Mychael Rambo’s deep voice.
Cheeky Audrey, brightly played by China Brickey, is entangled in an abusive relationship with Orin, the sadistic dentist, played by David Darrow, who brings maniacal to new levels. Seymour wants to rescue Audrey from this monster and have her for his own. Audrey wants an “American Dream” life like she sees in Better Homes & Gardens magazine which she describes in Somewhere That’s Green, one of the plays endearing tunes. If Seymour is to win Audrey, he will need to be able to offer this kind of life and hence must keep feeding Audrey ll—his source of income. Seymour’s Faustian bargain sets the scene for the comical horrors to follow.
Vie Boheme, Gabrielle Dominique and Erica Durham bring the pizzazz as denizens of Skid Row who serve as a Greek chorus, advancing the story with their high energy, rich voices and diverse song and dance numbers. Costumed by Sully Radtke in white shifts and neon glasses, the trio belt out doo-wop, rockabilly and vintage R&B heightening the dynamic 1960s vibe.
On the Wurtele Thrust stage at the Guthrie Theater through Aug. 18.
Guthrietheater.org/
612-377-2224.
