Well,
Anth, I couldn't agree with you more on all of your points.
I for one am excited that Joey is going to be joining the cast of Little Shop, I too didn't think that Hunter was anything much to write home about as Seymour. I LOVED him in Urinetown, but found his interpretation of Seymour lacking, and too one-note. It was hard for me to sympathize with his Seymour. Maybe that's just me. I found Kerry Butler's interpretation of Audrey more interesting and fresh than Hunter's Seymour. (And I know that I am in the vast minority here.)
Al Dente, where does it say that Seymour has to be waifish and hungry looking? As I remember, Lee Wilkof originated the role Off-Off Broadway, and he didn't look anywhere NEAR starving then! I honestly can see almost about any type playing Seymour, as long as they can come across as a victim. Actually in the script there is no reference to being of a certain type for Seymour. Mark, that might be a different matter - but then again, where did it say that Mark was starving to death?
Just my 2 cents.
Cheers,
The Balladeer
"Someone tell the story...Someone sing the song...."