Always one to include at least one twist that brings his shows up another level, Anthony pruned the typical plant puppet and replaced it with the talented Brian Polk in Lynn Choplin’s costumes. The progression began with Brian’s leafy, gloved hand poking out of a small flowerpot, to Brian being rooted by the rear into a larger pot with his legs and torso hanging out, to reaching his full height in the pot where he is adorned with stylish, leaf-toned, slightly shimmering suit and too-cool sunglasses – not to mention a dangerous ability to move himself about…

The idea worked so perfectly thanks to the remarkable performance of Brian Polk whose feel for comedy and surprisingly deep and soulful vocals were simply out of this world, some highlights being his adolescence as he sits silently, wide-eyed, and innocently in the pot until people get a little too close to his bloodthirsty trap when he would vainly try to snap at them, not to mention his root-raising performance in Git It as he convinces his green-thumbed caregiver Seymour to bring home some dentist for dinner.

Seth Biberstein is the nerdy aforementioned caregiver Seymour – the mousy assistant to selfish flower shop owner Mr. Mushnik (Anthony Kaneaster) who has an interest in strange and unusual plants. Seth’s performance highlights Seymour’s lack of self-confidence (his eyes never quite meeting anyone else’s) and embarrassed attraction to his coworker Audrey I (expressed so well through his uncomfortable body language). That tall, lovely, not-so-bright but very sweet Audrey I is played by Brigitte Beas who offers a more subdued and sadder Audrey, foregoing the over-the-top dumb-blonde voice in favor of a more normal Brooklyn accent. Audrey’s bad habit of falling for the wrong guy leads sadistic dentist and bad boy Orin Scrivello, DDS (John Selby) into a humorous showdown with Seymour. Audrey and Seymour combine for a touching and strong rendition of Suddenly Seymour.

The show is narrated by four Doo-Wop girls, Jackee Bianchi, Meryn Beckett, Emily Shackelford, and Hannah Sumner, who musically take us through the sometimes light, sometimes gory tale with style. The only drawback is when the staging takes them off into one high corner of the theatre where we can’t see them and the action on the main stage at the same time. The ensemble kicks it off with a strong intro to Skid Row and concludes with an energetic warning of Don’t Feed the Plants. With just a few rows of seating on three sides of the stage area, the audience is entertainingly (but dangerously!) close to the action throughout.

Performed through September 26, 2004.

Rob Hopper
San Diego Playbill

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