DJ Neal plays a very meek, somewhat nerdy Seymour who finds himself suddenly famous thanks to Audrey II. DJ has a good, understated sense of humor that works well in several scenes – like when he discovers the plant’s thirst for human blood and when his boss proposes to adopt him (to keep the plant in the family). Opposite him is a hilarious Haley Clemons as Audrey I, filling the role with great comic timing, facial expressions, and amusing little noises. Just her efforts to entertain herself in the customer-less flower shop turned into one of the hit scenes of the show. And she’s got a terrific voice as well, which we see most notably in her big solo Somewhere That’s Green that she sings alternately in her real voice and in the classic Audrey voice (using the Audrey voice for most of the cute, amusing lines), her singing capturing the humor and even some of the touching poignancy of the song. And despite several opening-night problems with the sound system (especially Seymour’s mike), their duet Suddenly Seymour was magnificent. It must have worked for Seymour and Audrey as well, for they celebrate it by getting caught up in a major make-out session.

And then there’s the other guy that Audrey kisses. Usually while handcuffed. The bad boy, semi-sadist Orin Scrivello. Doctor Orin Scrivello. And Steven Bombino is as good as it gets – a crazed and charismatic dentist hooked on nitrous oxide with a love for rusty, dull, antique dental tools (he mimics the sound of an electric motor as he lovingly cranks his antique drill). Steven nails the humor and vocals of both his Elvis-ish Dentist song (where he reminisces on Momma telling her sadistic son that he needs a job where he can cause people pain), and in his more difficult It’s Just the Gas that he sings while suffocating in laughing gas, doing so with originality, a little bit of fear, and a lot of humor (when describing the “gas that turns me on,” he’s titillating himself by lightly fingering his chest).

Elsewhere, Chase Stewart does terrific work backstage as the voice of the evil plant you love to hate, as well as making an appearance in human form as a transvestite bum. Mr. Mushnik (Matt Smith) does a nice job adopting Seymour in Mushnik and Son (featuring amusing choreography by Telisha Montgomery). The Doo-Wop girls (Lindsay Keith, Kylee Parks, and Chelsea Green) add energy to their scenes, with some good lead vocals by Lindsay and humor from the dynamic Kylee Parks. The ensemble delivers a good intro to life on Skid Row.

Performed June 25, 2007.

Rob Hopper
National Youth Theatre

Seymour: