“Fuddy Meers” Colony Theatre Through March 9
(818) 558-7000
Waking up in the morning with no recollection of the day before
may seem like a common occurrence across college campuses, but for
playwright David Lindsay-Abaire, the scenario presents itself as a
world of interesting plot opportunities. “Fuddy Meers”
is a frenzied, clever comedy that takes you on a memory trip more
twisted than your wildest drunken night. The play follows the day
of Claire (Denise Dillard), a woman with acute amnesia, who forgets
the day’s events as soon as she falls asleep. The play takes
a bizarre look at the manipulative people in her life as she tries
to piece together her world. While the production’s offbeat
humor and complex plot will definitely keep your attention, at
times the play’s chaos is just too much. Nick
DeGruccio’s portrayal of Millet, a morally conflicted
sidekick to the villain of the play, overwhelms the audience with
two overly dramatic sides to his character. Playing both the
paranoid and naive Millet and his crude hand puppet, Binky,
Millet’s few entertaining moments are drowned out by the
constant shrill of his voice. Adding to the frenzy is
Claire’s supposed brother (Donald Sage Mackay), a deformed
man with a limp and a lisp. The few too many Wicked Witch of the
West qualities make for an overly sinister and basically
unbelievable antagonist. All that’s missing is a screechy
violin and a hump, and you’ve got every bad guy in the book.
But the play’s creative aspects triumph over the annoying
details. Characters like Claire’s mother Gertie (Jodi
Carlisle), who has a stroke-induced speech impediment, and her
stoner teenage son Kenny (Michael Reisz) add some calm wit to an
otherwise chaotic plot. Though you might leave the play with a
headache, it provides you with a crazy night that you just might
hold on to in the morning. -Alexis Matsui
“Little Shop of Horrors” East West Players
Through March 2 (213) 625-7000
Flesh-eating plants, an unsuccessful flower shop and a nerdy
underdog named Seymour seem like a foolproof formula for any
production. Not so for this rendition of “Little Shop of
Horrors,” put on by the East West Players, L.A.’s
37-year-old Asian American theater troupe. The plot is the same as
in the original musical “Little Shop of Horrors” by
Howard Ashman. The meek Seymour (Samuel Chen) makes a pact with
“Audrey II,” the bloodthirsty alien plant, as he
exchanges human flesh for fame and the love of the real Audrey (Kym
Hoy). However, director Glen Chin adds a twist to the familiar plot
by placing the dysfunctional bunch in a run-down part of Los
Angeles’ Chinatown. Also, the three doo-wop girls from the
movie are replaced by a more hippie-like trio who add fun attitudes
and crazy costumes to the mix. Overall, the East West Players excel
in their musical abilities, especially Hoy, whose powerful voice
complements her more subtle portrayal of the whiny Audrey. While
the show is funny at times, occasional humor isn’t enough to
keep this black comedy afloat. Tacky props, like the cardboard
cutout alien ship in the beginning, and periodic over-the-top
acting make it feel at times more like a high school play then a
professional musical. A prime example is the sadistic dentist
dancing around the stage wearing a speedo and leather chaps ““
cheap, and not so easy on the eyes. -Jessica Warren