“The Plant That Ate Dirty Socks” is sure to please thousands of elementary schoolers during its six-week sojourn on Christopher Street Theatreworks USA plans to distribute more than 20,000 free tickets to groups and individuals. Jana Zielonka conducts from her keyboard, accompanied by a drummer, and designer Michael Schweikardt amusingly backs his set with a drop of what looks to be a modern-day Levittown. Director John Simpkins and choreographer Jennifer Werner keep things alive, although the slight plot seems overextended. The plants are operated by Michael Schupbach, who merits a bow in the curtain call. The proceedings are boosted by the six-person, clearly adult cast, led by Jason Williams (as the beefy seventh grader) and Lance Rubin (as his nerdy fourth-grade brother). The exception is the jaunty “Plants Make Wonderful Pets,” which lands in a way that the other songs don’t.
Songs are rhythmic and humorous but more functional than noteworthy. His work is perfectly capable here, although one suspects that his talents lie in a rather more sophisticated vein. Score and book for this “family rock” musical are by Joe Iconis, an up-and-coming NYU/Tisch grad who has received both the Ed Kleban and Jonathan Larson awards. The plot, such as it is, revolves around entering the plants in the local science fair. The good-natured parents want to get rid of the plants, but they nevertheless run out and buy socks wholesale. The messy kid’s plant (Stanley) is the one who eats dirty socks the neat kid’s pod (Fluffy) likes ’em freshly laundered.
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